Kenya receives great support from Thailand in achieving Universal Health Coverage

Thailand has successfully executed the UHC programme for its citizens and their package includes in-patient, out-patient and emergency care to all nationals.

The Government of Thailand has pledged to continue working with Kenya’s Health Ministry to leverage on achieving the Universal Health Coverage which is one of the significant pillars in the country’s Big Four Agenda.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Sicily Kariuki and her Thailand counterpart Emeritus Piyasakol, entered into a deal with Thailand so as to support in formulating the best service delivery package for the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan.

Thailand is now one of Kenya’s consultative and technical partners in UHC execution.

“We will work together with the Ministry of Health in Kenya to attain the full execution of UHC”, said, Piyasakol.

As part of the collaboration, already over 50 participants from Kenya have been successfully trained on Health Technology Assessment by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) in Thailand.

“UHC doesn’t only mean ‘financial protection’ but also more on universal entrance to comprehensive health services”, commented, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Health, Supakit Sirilak.

He further continued saying “they started their journey to attaining UHC by developing a health system that makes sure the universal access to vital health services”.

Motivation of health workers and equipping all levels of hospitals with necessary medical equipment is also said to be a plan they applied.

The South East Asian country is just about the same land mass and population as Kenya and they have achieved this important milestone in health, even though having a low gross national income per capita at the time they started their journey back in 2002.

“The country is on the right track towards achieving UHC, adding that they have so far recorded success in UHC piloting which is at present taking place in four Counties”, noted, CS Kariuki.

Besides this, from Thailand, Kariuki has also met with Cuban health minister, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi, Guinea Bissau and United Kingdom.

Already 100 medical specialists from Cuba have been imported in the country and posted to various counties.

This great help from Thailand will benefit Kenya in improvising their universal healthcare coverage.

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