Health financing reform in Kenya - assessing the social health insurance proposal.
Kenya has had a history of health financing policy changes since its independence in 1963. Recently, significant preparatory work was done on a new Social Health Insurance Law that, if accepted, would lead to universal health coverage in Kenya after a transition period. Questions of economic feasibility and political acceptability continue to be discussed, with stakeholders voicing concerns on design features of the new proposal submitted to the Kenyan parliament in 2004. For economic, social, political and organisational reasons a transition period will be necessary, which is likely to last more than a decade. However, important objectives such as access to health care and avoiding impoverishment due to direct health care payments should be recognised from the start so that steady progress towards effective universal coverage can be planned and achieved.
Carrin
Guy
G
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. guycarrin@gmail.com
James
Chris
C
Adelhardt
Michael
M
Doetinchem
Ole
O
Eriki
Peter
P
Hassan
Mohammed
M
van den Hombergh
Henri
H
Kirigia
Joses
J
Koemm
Burkard
B
Korte
Rolf
R
Krech
Rüdiger
R
Lankers
Cristopher
C
van Lente
Jan
J
Maina
Tom
T
Malonza
Katherine
K
Mathauer
Inke
I
Okeyo
Tom Mboya
TM
Muchiri
Stephen
S
Mumani
Zipora
Z
Nganda
Benjamin
B
Nyikal
James
J
Onsongo
Joyce
J
Rakuom
Chris
C
Schramm
Bernd
B
Scheil-Adlung
Xenia
X
Stierle
Friedeger
F
Whitaker
Dan
D
Zipperer
Manfred
M
D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D007630:Kenya; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*