NAIROBI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pan African health lobby has called on the Kenyan government to increase funding in order to meet its universal health coverage goal by end of 2022.
Peter Ngure, Deputy Director of Youth Advocacy Project at the Nairobi-based Amref Health Africa told an economic forum in Nairobi late Thursday that Kenya is currently investing seven percent of its annual budget in health.
"There is need for a drastic review to this and at least ensure an increase every year so that health expenditure reaches 15 percent of national budget as per the Abuja Declaration of improving the health sector in order for the country to attain its goal of universal health coverage," Ngure said during a pre-budget hearing on the 2018/2019 financial year.
Ngure said Kenya has integrated universal health coverage as a goal in the national health strategy and entrenched it in the Constitution.
He noted that although there have been overall improvements of health indicators in the last decade, the health sector continues to face major challenges that include inequitable access to health service as well as a shortage of qualified health workers with appropriate skills.
Ngure noted that the East African nation has nine health workers for every 10,000 people in the population while the recommended World Health Organization level is 20 health workers for per 10,000 people.
"This shows that increased recruitment of health workers as well as improved remuneration and motivation of health personnel should be prioritized," he added.
