Achieving equity in the distribution of healthcare workforce in rural and urban areas has continued to be a major concern to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry has acknowledged that majority of healthcare providers in the country are predominantly concentrated in urban areas.
This has led to significant disparity in access to medical services and healthcare professionals in rural areas.
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni noted that the discrepancy poses a substantial challenge in providing equitable healthcare across the country.
"We must explore innovative policies and infrastructure development to encourage healthcare professionals to serve underserved regions, fostering a more balanced distribution of healthcare resources and enhancing access to quality healthcare services for all,” Muthoni said.
MoH data shows that there is an estimated population of 200,000 healthcare providers in the country.
Out of this, 66 per cent are employed in the public sector while the remaining 34 per cent work in the private sector.
Nurses comprise the largest group of the professionals accounting for 58 per cent of the entire healthcare workforce.
Clinical officers account for 13 per cent while doctors represent seven per cent.
Currently, the density of doctors, nurses and clinical officers stands at 30.14 per 10,000 individuals, which is below the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index threshold of 44.5, the ministry said.
“The 100,000 Community Health Promoters' referral role will only materialise when they direct patients to adequately staffed healthcare facilities,” PS Muthoni said.
The ministry in August undertook a comprehensive nationwide census of the more than 14,000 healthcare facilities including public, private and faith-based.
The objective was to evaluate the country's readiness for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in terms of human resources, equipment and the availability of technology.
Muthoni has noted that after the census, the ministry has since strengthened health systems to ensure a seamless continuum of care.
"This involves making investments in recruitment and retention evident by the renewal of contracts for the over 8,850 UHC staff," Muthoni said.
"In addition, we have made substantial investments in professional development activities, which encompass facilitating professional courses within and outside the country," she added.
These efforts include providing scholarships and sponsorships for mid-level and higher level colleges that produce local specialists.
