Kenya to Launch Smart Primary Care Network
The Government is set to launch an intelligent Primary Care Network (PCN) in October, with plans to enlist 100,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to oversee and manage the network. This initiative is aimed at prioritizing Primary Healthcare (PH), ultimately reducing the disease burden in the country by emphasizing preventive healthcare over curative measures.
Ms. Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, explained that CHPs will operate in villages and households, educating and training people in preventive healthcare practices.
In total, 315 Primary HealthCare Networks (PCNs) will be established, complete with governance, coordination, and financial structures. The official launch of the smart Primary Care Network is scheduled for October 20, 2023, during this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kericho County, under the theme "Universal Health Care."
The PCNs are designed to enhance care integration across different health system levels, improve healthcare efficiency by providing care at the most appropriate level, ensure inclusivity, create an effective emergency referral system, enhance resource sharing, and improve data flow for better decision-making.
Ms. Muthoni highlighted the shift in Kenya's healthcare approach from curative to preventive and promotive healthcare. She stressed that preventive measures are more cost-effective in dealing with health issues before they become incurable.
The government is working on restructuring the healthcare delivery system to provide efficient, integrated, and high-quality affordable healthcare, thereby reducing the disease burden and enhancing the well-being of Kenyans.
Speaking during a Training of Trainers (ToT) event for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Naivasha, Ms. Muthoni emphasized the role of CHPs in advising the government on local healthcare conditions, identifying gaps, facilitating referrals, and contributing to universal healthcare.
She mentioned that the government is addressing healthcare system challenges such as insufficient human resources, health financing for universal healthcare, and an ineffective supply chain for healthcare commodities.
To tackle these issues, the government has devised plans for county governments and other stakeholders to share stipends for CHPs, equip 100,000 existing Community Health Promoters with kits, and leverage technology for data collection and reporting to ensure quality services.
Additionally, pending bills in Parliament, including Social Insurance, Commodity Health, and Facility Improvement Bills, aim to enhance healthcare provision. The government also intends to digitize the healthcare system by interlinking health facilities and improving healthcare product procurement through a national health procurement board.
These efforts are aimed at lowering healthcare costs, increasing the number of households with health insurance under the new Social Health Insurance (SHI) Package, and establishing an integrated and interoperable health information ecosystem to enhance patient-centered services, prevent fraud, and improve healthcare efficiency, transparency, and data sharing among healthcare providers."
Tags: Mary Muthoni Primary Care Network
