Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Debora Barasa, has announced that the government is prioritizing coverage for cardiovascular and related conditions under the Social Health Authority (SHA), as part of its commitment to enhance Universal Health Coverage in Kenya.
Speaking at the AGC Tenwek Hospital in Bomet during the inauguration of its new Cardiothoracic Centre, which was opened by President William Ruto, Dr. Barasa highlighted that cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality in the country.
Many patients currently rely on specialized health facilities, including AGC Tenwek, which has been compliant and admitted into the Social Health Authority grid which is promoting Universal Health Coverage.
“In line with our commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), we have prioritized cardiovascular conditions within SHA’s three health insurance funds, to ensure comprehensive coverage for those affected,” Dr. Barasa explained.
To improve access to care, she noted that the government has strengthened community health systems by training Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and implementing community screening programs.
These initiatives, coupled with expanded SHA coverage, aim to enhance the prevention, detection, and management of cardiovascular diseases in Kenya.
Dr. Las White, chief cardiologist at the AGC Tenwek Cardiothoracic Centre, shared alarming statistics, stating that patients with heart-related issues often die while waiting for surgery.
He revealed that the facility currently has around 850 patients on its waiting list, many of whom are children, and that previously, the facility could only handle one surgery per day.
“It is unfortunate that we continue to lose patients from our waiting lists daily. Our facility had been limited to one surgical procedure a day due to having just one operating room equipped for complex open-heart surgeries. However, with the opening of this new facility, which is equipped with cross cutting-edge technologies, we expect to perform a greater number of complex procedures,” Dr. White stated.
AGC Tenwek is the first rural hospital outside Nairobi to perform heart surgeries, with 2,000 major and minor procedures conducted since its first open-heart surgery in 2008.
The newly inaugurated Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) features 174 beds, including 52 intensive care unit/post-anesthesia care unit (ICU/PACU) beds, six major operating theatres, a catheterization suite, five endoscopy rooms, an outpatient clinic, and modern equipment—all at an estimated cost of over Sh 4.5 billion.
The CTC has been under construction since July 2021, following its commissioning by Director-General for Health Services, Dr. Patrick Amoth.
By Lamech Willy A.
