The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Kenya’s health workforce, terming it a central pillar in the delivery of Universal Health Coverage, even as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) unveiled a new strategic plan to guide its operations over the coming years.
Speaking in Nairobi during the launch of the plan, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga said the government remains focused on building a resilient, well-supported and equitably deployed health workforce to meet national healthcare needs.
He noted that President William Ruto’s administration has prioritised health worker welfare as part of its broader reforms aimed at stabilising and modernising the sector.
“The leadership of His Excellency the President has been very clear that health workers are central to the success of UHC and the ongoing health reforms,” Dr Oluga said.
“The welfare, development, and deployment of our health workforce is not a peripheral issue—it is the foundation of a functional health system.”
Dr Oluga pointed to several milestones achieved under the current administration as evidence of renewed focus on human resources for health.
These include the operationalisation of the Health Human Resource Advisory Council, designed to streamline workforce planning and coordination across counties and national institutions.
He also cited the appointment of a national taskforce on health worker welfare, progress in clinical placements, and improved mechanisms for internship placement and UHC staffing arrangements.
According to the PS, these reforms are part of a deliberate effort to address long-standing systemic challenges such as uneven distribution of health workers, delayed internships, and governance gaps in workforce management.
He said the government is ready to work closely with KMPDU in implementing its strategic plan, arguing that stronger collaboration between policymakers and frontline professionals is essential for sustainable progress.
“The government stands prepared to collaborate fully with KMPDU as it rolls out this strategic plan,” he said.
“We see this as an opportunity to align priorities and ensure that the reforms being undertaken are grounded in the lived realities of health workers.”
The unveiling of KMPDU’s strategic plan marks a significant moment for the union, which has often been at the centre of national debates over health worker rights, pay, and working conditions.
The new plan outlines the union’s priorities in advocacy, governance, membership engagement and professional development, with the overarching goal of strengthening the health workforce and improving quality of care.
Officials at the event noted that the plan comes at a time when Kenya faces persistent shortages of specialised staff, rising healthcare demands, and renewed pressure to accelerate UHC implementation.
Strengthening the health workforce, they said, remains critical to improving service delivery, reducing patient-to-doctor ratios, and achieving long-term sector stability.
The launch sets the stage for renewed cooperation between the government and health professionals as Kenya continues to push toward an efficient, equitable and people-centred healthcare system.
