HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURE OUTCOMES KENYA HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ESSAY PART 1

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The health of the people is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest co-operation of individuals and the state. Human health therefore has a major role to play in a Country’s Economic Development. There is a direct relationship between the health status of a population and its productivity as demonstrated by industrialized countries, which are now benefiting from years of investment in health services. The provision of good health satisfies one of the basic human needs and contributes significantly towards maintaining and enhancing the productivity of the people.

The health sector is pluralistic where health services are provided by many players in the field including the public sector through the Government of Kenya (GOK) and parastatal organizations, the private sector comprising the Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Private for-profit facilities. The public sector is the largest provider and financier of health services and operates health care facilities throughout the country accounting for about 52% of all facilities.

In the Vision 2030 Master Plan, several structural changes are envisaged to improve and expand the existing health sector in both public and private spheres to address the challenges.

In Kenya, total health spending stands at about US$6.2 per capita, far short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended level of US$34 per capita. Life expectancy is also on the decline. According to the World Health statistics 2018, life-expectancy among Kenyan males in 2006 was 57.49 and for women was 58.24 years. This puts Kenya at 188th in the world rankings. HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Rabies, food and water-borne diseases has been a scourge of Kenya, and therefore pose continual challenges to health care providers in Kenya. The infant mortality rate (under 1) was 68 in 1990 and 81 in 2008 per 1,000 live births (UNICEF-Kenya statistics).