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Table 5 Summary of UHC aspects in the Kenyan context

From: Indicators for Universal Health Coverage: can Kenya comply with the proposed post-2015 monitoring recommendations?

UHC aspects

Description

Access to needed services

• The right to health services by all Kenyans is articulated in the constitution

• A standard Kenya essential health package is being implemented and has included interventions for non-communicable diseases and injuries as well.

• The availability of health facilities and services are limited, more so for the rural population.

• The range and quality of health services offered are limited.

• Cost is a key barrier to accessing health services.

Financial risk protection

• Existing health financing mechanisms offer very limited financial risk protection.

• Out of pocket expenditure is major source of health sector financing in the country.

• Nearly 10% of Kenyans have access to any form of health insurance. Majority of the health insurance schemes require co-payments for medicine or certain outpatient and diagnostic services thus offering limited protection.

• Kenyan households incur impoverishing and catastrophic health expenditure. Estimates suggest that nearly 1.5 million households are pushed below the national poverty line due to health care payments.

Equity

• Health sector is inequitable. The distribution and utilisation of health services favour the wealthier and urban populations in the country.

  1. Sourced from [23],[26]-[28],[30],[31],[38],[40]-[42].