- The last assessment was conducted in 2018 and has been instrumental in informing the ministry’s policy and programming.
- The assessment also seeks to answer critical questions regarding healthcare delivery.
Image: HANDOUT
The Ministry of Health has begun a Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (HHFA) in select hospitals to determine the quality of care.
The 40-day exercise will be conducted in 3,603 sampled health facilities across the country to assess services available and identify barriers to healthcare access.
The last assessment was conducted in 2018 and has been instrumental in informing the ministry’s policy and programming.
The assessment also seeks to answer critical questions regarding healthcare delivery such as the readiness of health workers, adherence to standards, patient experiences and service distribution across the health system.
The assessment will be done in collaboration with the county governments, the National Council for Population Development (NCPD), the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and other development partners.
The World Health Organisation will offer technical assistance, which includes adapting tools and conducting data analysis while the Global Fund and UNFPA provide resources essential for the planning phase.
“It is particularly crucial for areas where services are often of lower quality, as it aims to bridge the gap between investments and quality outcomes,” Public Health PS Mary Muthoni said.
According to Muthoni, it will provide necessary information for strategic planning and help the two levels of government identify priority investment areas to accelerate the achievement of UHC by 2030.
This, she said, aligns with the country's shift towards preventive and promotive healthcare, reinforcing the strengthening of Primary Healthcare for effective delivery in the country.
The ministry has acknowledged that despite the country’s progress in increasing access to health services, areas such as high maternal mortality ratio remain a concern.
For instance, the 2019 population census estimates maternal mortality ratio to be at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births with the latest UN estimates suggesting a higher figure.
Childhood mortality, while declining, is still a critical issue, with under-5 mortalities at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births and infant mortality at 32 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“Neonatal mortality remains largely unchanged. Moreover, Non-Communicable Diseases now account for 41 per cent of mortality, up from 27 per cent in 2018, indicating a shift in the health burden,” Muthoni said.
“These statistics underscore the need to focus on the quality of care across all health facility types in Kenya.”
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 report highlights key milestones, including a remarkable increase in skilled birth attendance from 66 per cent in 2014 to 89 per cent in 2022, and a decline in unmet need for family planning from 35 per cent to 14 per cent.
Data further shows that 98 per cent of women received antenatal care from a skilled provider, with 66 per cent completing at least four visits.
Furthermore, 80 per cent of children are fully vaccinated by 24 months, indicating progress in preventive healthcare.
This comes a month after the Kenya Health Facility Census 2023, released in December showed only seven per cent of health facilities in Kenya are ready to offer basic outpatient services.
Preparedness means a facility should have all the requisite infrastructure, staff and equipment.
The equipment includes basic instruments such as thermometers, weighing scales, stethoscopes, blood pressure machines, pulse oximeters, drip stands, oxygen cylinders, stadiometers and examination couches, among others.
“Availability of basic equipment is especially a critical gap that needs to be bridged for quick gains,” acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said.
The survey targeted 14,366 health facilities including public (47 per cent), private (46 per cent), and faith-based/non-governmental organisations health facilities (eight per cent).