Kisii, Kenya, 29 March 2017 A robust Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach is essential to achieve better healthcare. Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Cleopa Mailu said strengthening PPP has become a compelling strategy to address a wide range of health care system needs.
He noted the partnership will include employing synergy in service delivery, exchanging leadership and technical competences in human resources, improving decision making through better access to information, employing technology in management of medicines and combined resource mobilization.
For this reason “We shall continue to constructively engage the private sector to partner with the government in providing the continuum healthcare services, to complement national and county efforts,’ said Dr. Mailu, during the inaugural Lake Region Health Investment Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday.
The CS revealed that the government is planning to use the Universal Health Coverage as a vehicle to expand access to affordable and quality health services. He said “Building resilient health systems with the right attribute will require long-term political, social and economic stability and a genuine and sustainable commitment from all stakeholders to invest in health and development.”
He added for the partnership to be effective in addressing poverty, equity, quality and cost components considerable work will need to be done in terms of developing accountability, transparency, regulatory framework and mutual trust that is necessary in partnership.
The inaugural Lake Region Health Investment conference focuses on strengthening health system through partnership for socio-economic development and prosperity. The collaboration is between 13 counties of Kakamega, Kisii, Vihiga, Bomet, Kericho, Homabay, Nyamira, Bungoma, Migori, Trans Nzioa, in the Lake Region Economic Bloc, to improve health services across jurisdictions through cross border deployment of expertise, resources and sharing of best practices.
The Lake Region is served by 2246 health facilities, averaging 1.8 health facilities per 10000 population, close to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standard of two. In 2009, the region’s population was 12 million.
The CS commended the counties for setting the good record but added that there is more to be done since the 13 counties contribute to about 50% of the HIV burden in the country.