Health and Wellness
Kenya among countries off track on tobacco tax benchmarks
As of 2024, Kenya’s tobacco tax share stands between 70 and 74 percent of the retail price, leaving it just below the WHO’s best-practice threshold.
Health and Wellness
News
KNH rolls out new admission rules for SHA patients after complaints
KNH advised all patients to begin by carrying the same national ID used when registering for SHA. “Make sure you have a valid SHA-registered ID number with active SHA membership,” the hospital stated.
Health and Wellness
Hospital Horror: Goons invasion halts caesarean section in Kitengela
The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) reacted with outrage, condemning what it termed a dangerous and unlawful act against a space meant to protect life.
Health and Wellness
Governors propose SHA-Kemsa debt swap to rescue county health services
The funds, owed under the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), are said to be crucial for the continued operation of health services in devolved units.
Health and Wellness
Medics warn of rising risks to healthcare access during protests
The group added that as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, Kenya is obligated to uphold medical neutrality, a principle that protects health workers and ensures patients receive care even during times of unrest.
Health and Wellness
Health advocates warn of deepening NCD crisis amid chronic underfunding in Kenya
The group says Kenya’s health financing remains insufficient and poorly targeted, despite the rising toll of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
Health and Wellness
Sh58.5 billion polio boost targets Kenya’s urban vaccine gaps
The fresh investment will support various activities, including vaccine delivery, surveillance, emergency interventions, and awareness campaigns in countries considered high-risk.
Health and Wellness
Gov’t dismisses vaccine fears, urges parents to immunize children
Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth dismissed safety concerns and encouraged parents to present their children for vaccination.
Health and Wellness
Mandera County Gov't operationalizes five new health facilities, upgrades others
In addition to the new facilities, eight dispensaries across the county have been upgraded to full health centres.
Health and Wellness
Medics slam police attacks, demand urgent dialogue to ease tensions
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atella said the union had recorded at least 200 incidents of violence, including seven injuries sustained by health workers.
News
KEMSA to audit medical stock after Sh98 billion expiry scandal
The disposal of the expired drugs is expected to cost taxpayers an additional Sh600 million, triggering widespread public anger amid chronic drug shortages in public hospitals.
Health and Wellness
Senate summons SHA boss as counties push for NHIF-Kemsa debt swap
The Senators want the SHA to present a status report, clear payment timelines, and details of amounts still pending for all counties.
Health and Wellness
Abortion debate rekindled after grim discovery in Nairobi
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, visibly shaken by the incident, said the scene was traumatic and emblematic of a much deeper national problem.
Health and Wellness
Lamu unveils key health infrastructure upgrades at King Fahad Hospital
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale said more equipment, including a mammogram and MRI machine, is expected to arrive soon.
Health and Wellness
Top health officials face fines over expired medical supplies - CS Duale
Duale said senior officials at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency will be fined for any expired drugs found in their stores.
Health and Wellness
Pneumonia, cancer and heart disease top causes of death in Kenya – KNBS
In 2020, cardiac arrest, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest,was the top cause of hospital deaths, claiming 9,332 lives, followed by pneumonia with 9,061 and cancer with 6,078 deaths.
Health and Wellness
Duale: Over 24 million Kenyans now enrolled under SHA
Speaking during a visit to King Fahad Hospital in Lamu County, Duale said 70,000 residents in Lamu had registered with SHA, including 21,000 who signed up on Thursday alone.
Health and Wellness
Kenya gets Sh4.9 billion for vaccines as 15 million children targeted in national drive
Health Director-General Patrick Amoth said the allocation will help end stockouts permanently, with discussions underway to safeguard the money for exclusive use in vaccine procurement.
Health and Wellness
Ministry launches 10-day campaign to protect children from typhoid, measles
The campaign as announced by Health CS Aden Duale will run from July 5 to 14, 2025, targeting children aged 9 months to 14 years for typhoid vaccination and those aged 9 to 59 months for measles-rubella.
Health and Wellness
KMPDC under fire after downgrading over 100 rural private hospitals
The downgrading has raised alarm because it directly affects the services the hospitals are allowed to offer and the financial support they are eligible to receive.
Health and Wellness
Nairobi Hospital denounces fake letter on board changes
Dr Barcley Onyambu, Chairman of the Kenya Hospital Association, which manages the hospital, clarified that no board meeting was held on the date mentioned in the letter.
Health and Wellness
Over 1,800 intern doctors to earn Sh206,000 monthly, confirms KMPDU
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah assured the interns comprising medical officers, pharmacists, and dentists that they will receive their full dues as stipulated in the binding agreement.
Health and Wellness
Health experts raise alarm over rising HIV infections among women in Bungoma
According to the 2024 County HIV Report, the overall prevalence rate stands at 1.78 percent, but women are disproportionately affected, registering a rate of 2.53 percent compared to 1.01 percent among men.
Health and Wellness
1 in 5 cancer drugs fail quality test in Africa
The investigation found that nearly one in five cancer medicines sampled from hospitals and private pharmacies in four countries did not meet quality standards.
Health and Wellness
Kenya deploys over 6,000 health interns in historic nationwide posting
A total of 6,484 interns have been assigned to accredited health facilities across the country for one year of supervised clinical training.
Health and Wellness
Health Ministry waives medical bills for Nairobi protest victims
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says all medical bills for those injured during the June 17 and 25 demonstrations will be fully waived.
Health and Wellness
Three-quarters of global population now covered by tobacco control measures, says WHO
The report, titled Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025, applauds global progress in reducing tobacco use but cautions that uneven enforcement especially in countries like Kenya threatens to undo years of hard-won progress.
Health and Wellness
Dozens of hospitals shut over Sh100m SHA fraud
In some instances, hospitals admitted patients unnecessarily, while others submitted claims for non-existent patients despite already operating at full capacity.
Health and Wellness
Ministry announces posting of 6,484 health interns including 500 pharmacists
The interns will undergo a 12-month structured programme at accredited centres, aimed at providing essential clinical training in real healthcare settings.
Health and Wellness
Sh375 billion shortfall threatens Gavi’s 2026–30 vaccine drive
Under the new plan, dubbed Gavi 6.0, the alliance seeks to prevent between eight and nine million deaths through routine immunisation, increase vaccine access in the poorest and most remote areas, and strengthen pandemic readiness through stockpiles for threats such as cholera, monkeypox and Ebola.