PharmAccess Mobilizes Kisumu County MPs to Discuss Strategies for Advancing UHC Agenda at Constituency Level
PharmAccess has mobilized the seven Members of Parliament from Kisumu County, and stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to discuss innovative health financing opportunities for scaling UHC penetration at the Constituency and Ward levels, leveraging Kenya’s robust digital infrastructure.
PharmAccess has since 2018 provided material and technical support in advancing the UHC Agenda as well as Health Systems Strengthening to the County Government of Kisumu, starting with the Presidential UHC pilot program. The organization provided conceptual orientation and digital technology (MTIBA) used to enrol and undertake geo-mapping of the population. Through a public-private partnership (PPP) involving the County Government, PharmAccess, and National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF); the Kisumu Solidarity Health Insurance Cover (MARWA) was launched in 2021.
MARWA is a locally designed and locally oriented social health insurance model built on the lessons learnt during the UHC pilot, leveraging transformative digital technologies. The model has resulted in significant health and policy improvements- as evidenced by, among others, increasing the County’s health insurance penetration from 12.5 % to 23%. Even then, the County’s target of 70% health insurance coverage is yet to be attained. Many vulnerable segments of the population remain uninsured, exposing them to financial catastrophe, a burden the MPs have had to shoulder on the ground.
Against this background, PharmAccess held strategic discussions between the Members of Parliament from Kisumu County, to explore opportunities to foster synergies in streamlining UHC financing and scaling uptake at the Constituency and Ward levels, leveraging on innovative digital health propositions. Illustrative topics for deliberation included (i) enabling a common understanding on the Primary Care Network (PCN) Operations: Structure, Operations and Sustainability, including its financing; (ii) Scaling UHC through Health Insurance as a form of financial protection and, (iii) exploring the resource mobilization space for health insurance in Kisumu County and the role of MPs.
The Member of Parliament for Ikolomani Constituency, Bernard Shinali shared an inspiration on how a similar model to increase health insurance worked for his constituents.
Dr James Nyikal said, “I would like to appreciate PharmAccess for their steadfast commitment towards strengthening the Kenya’s health care system. The organization has proven its expertise through its support to Kisumu County to extend health insurance to all residents.”
Dr Wasunna Owino, PharmAccess Kenya Country Director said, “Digital technology can mobilize additional financing for health, scale health coverage to those who have been excluded from the health system and improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. Together with Kisumu County MPs we are discussing opportunities to leverage such existing initiatives and stimulate UHC investments.”
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