Health

Health CS Aden Duale warned that hospitals admitting patients beyond their licensed bed capacity will be held accountable. He stated that any claims involving shared beds will now be treated as insurance fraud.

In a notice, the institution said it requires a strict three-step verification process, warning that SHA will not cover inpatient costs if admission is not properly referenced at entry.

KMA Secretary General Dr Diana Marion expressed concern over what the association describes as a disturbing trend of interference with healthcare services amid civil unrest.

When properly refrigerated, pasteurised milk remained safe for consumption for several weeks, highlighting the importance of pasteurisation and cold storage in reducing health risks.

Between 2010 and 2019, measles vaccination rates declined in 100 of the 204 countries studied. Notably, 21 out of 36 high-income countries experienced a drop in coverage for at least one routine childhood vaccine.

The pledge was announced during the annual Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada, and will support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) over the next three years.

Health researchers warn that risks have increased due to climate change, rapid urbanisation, and global travel, all of which accelerate the spread of zoonotic outbreaks.

They are demanding stricter regulation, including mandatory audits, clear labelling of reused bottles, and the adoption of a safe recycling model where glass is remelted and reprocessed.

Contributions to the SHA are made through payroll deductions for formally employed individuals, direct payments from those in the informal sector, and government subsidies for indigent and vulnerable populations.

The committee wants a clear breakdown of the outstanding balances, a payment schedule, and the current status of remittances to all 47 counties.

Health CS Aden Duale urged the public to remain vigilant and report any instances of malpractice, service denial, or fraudulent claims through the toll-free number *147#, assuring that every complaint would be acted upon promptly.

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atella revealed that over 200 violent incidents have been reported in recent protests, including seven health workers who sustained serious injuries.

Funded by AMREF Health Africa through the TB Global Fund, the application will facilitate data collection and improve service delivery by enabling the community to provide feedback on the health services they receive.

The ideal method of compiling this list is to conduct a census, as Kenya did in 2023. But this takes resources. Some countries have compiled lists from existing incomplete ones. Senegal did this and so did Kenya in 2003 and 2008.

Speaking on Thursday, Duale said the ministry will not tolerate wastage and warned that senior agency officials will be surcharged for any expired stock at Kemsa warehouses.

According to WHO, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, now account for more than 75 per cent of all global deaths, with tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drink consumption acting as major contributors.

The campaign, set to run from July 5 to 14, 2025, will offer typhoid vaccines to children aged 9 months to 14 years and measles-rubella vaccines to those aged 9 to 59 months.

The funds, allocated in the 2025/26 financial year by the National Treasury, are expected to stabilise vaccine availability and support an expansive immunisation programme targeting millions of children.

Rupha chairman Brian Lishenga faulted KMPDC’s actions, saying it was unacceptable for the council to collect licence fees for Level 3 classifications, then alter the facility status without any form of engagement or explanation.

The complex procedure was conducted on June 24, 2025, by a team of specialists from the hospital’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit, led by Dr Stephen Takow.

According to the Ministry of Health, the decision was made in response to the physical injuries and emotional trauma experienced by protest victims.

In Kenya, the sale of processed packaged foods surged by 16 per cent between 2018 and 2023. Over the same period, obesity rates have tripled since 2000, with 45 per cent of adult women and 19 per cent of men now classified as overweight or obese.

Across Africa, cancer medications have been found to be substandard or counterfeit. That means people are being given medicine that may not work, or that could even cause them harm.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has unearthed internal fraud schemes involving ghost services and unauthorized system access.

Vaccination is not only about protecting yourself; it's about protecting others who can’t defend themselves.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale condemned the trend, stating that it undermines public trust in the universal health coverage programme and would be met with swift punishment.

In addition to stigma, practical obstacles such as limited access to affordable and male-friendly mental health services further restrict men’s ability to obtain timely care.

These experiences include various forms of abuse, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as neglect and household dysfunction.

Allan Maleche, Executive Director of the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network and one of the event’s organisers, challenged the reliance on age alone as the sole criterion for access.

The majority of cases have been reported in Busia (48 cases) and Mombasa (37), followed by Nakuru (16) and Makueni (10). Smaller clusters emerged in Nairobi (5 cases), Kajiado and Bungoma (3 each), as well as Taita Taveta, Kilifi, and Kericho (2 each), and Kiambu (1 case).

They will undergo a 12-month structured internship programme aimed at providing supervised clinical training and practical exposure within real-world healthcare environments.

The majority of new measles infections were among school-age children who had only one shot of the measles vaccine.

Despite decades of success that have saved over 154 million children’s lives, recent years have seen growing gaps in vaccine coverage.

Discussions focused on how to make the most of limited resources to tackle health crises using evidence-based research, especially in countries also struggling with political and climate challenges.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that the Ministry respects the court process but emphasised that it did not invalidate the deductions.

Justice Chacha Mwita on Monday ruled that the law states that only income tax is withheld from gross income; therefore, no other deductions can be made from an employee's total earnings.

Like many others in his situation, Erick Mwari turned to substances to cope, numbing emotional pain with harmful distractions.

Each year, approximately 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Kenya in high-burden areas, and between 2 and 4 out of every 100 newborns are affected.

In a tiny room in Muthurwa, Nairobi, Auma prepares for motherhood alone—without baby clothes, a hospital bag, or any family support.

According to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the move is part of a wider government effort to make healthcare more inclusive, particularly for young mothers who often miss out on care due to stigma or financial constraints.

The caucus is demanding that the Ministry of Health withdraw the bill and instead amend the Health Act 2017. It also wants Kenya to honour the Abuja Declaration of 2001, which commits countries to allocate at least 15 per cent of their total annual budgets to health.

Duale said this move is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the health sector.

The affected counties are Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kwale and Turkana.

Unlike daily PrEP pills or injections given every two months, the shot could be more appealing to people who struggle with adherence or wish to avoid the stigma associated with daily medication.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga says nearly 6,000 new infections had been recorded among individuals aged 15 to 24.

Until now, these medicines were only allowed in Level 4 hospitals and higher. Their limited availability and frequent stockouts contributed to the country’s high maternal death rates.

During this period, the agency confirmed that both the receipt and dispatch of medical supplies will be suspended. However, it clarified that emergency cases will still be attended to.

The report reveals that essential medicines such as HIV antiretrovirals, antimalarials, painkillers like tramadol, and antibiotics are the most frequently targeted by counterfeiters.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the closures are meant to eliminate quacks and restore public confidence in health services.

The allocation for Global Fund-supported programmes has been slashed from Sh28.7 billion in the current financial year ending June 30 to Sh17.3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year.

If enacted, the Bill will require all health facilities to provide only the services they are licensed and qualified to offer. Those found operating beyond their approved mandate could face fines of up to Sh50 million, a jail term of up to 10 years, or both.