Health Ministry seeks Sh140 million to digitise HIV care, Sh5 billion to counter USAID cuts
The ministry argues that the move aims to integrate HIV-related health records into Kenya’s digital health superhighway, ensuring data accessibility and service efficiency.
The Ministry of Health is seeking an additional Sh140 million allocation in the 2025/26 financial year to establish a centralised digital database for HIV care.
The ministry argues that the move aims to integrate HIV-related health records into Kenya’s digital health superhighway, ensuring data accessibility and service efficiency amid uncertainties in international funding.
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The proposed system is part of a broader effort to modernise Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure and strengthen the country’s ability to provide uninterrupted HIV care.
By fully integrating HIV-related digital platforms into a national health information management system, the government seeks to ensure that healthcare providers can securely access patient records regardless of location.
“Integrating HIV programme systems into the digital health superhighway is a necessary shift towards sustainability. With uncertainties in international funding, Kenya must ensure uninterrupted HIV care by strengthening local health infrastructure,” the ministry said.
The digital health superhighway is a national initiative designed to centralise health data and improve service delivery across the country. The integration of HIV programme systems into this ecosystem is expected to enhance efficiency, promote real-time data-driven decision-making, and improve patient outcomes.
Budget review
Beyond the Sh140 million request for digital integration, the Ministry of Health is also urgently seeking a budget review to secure at least Sh5 billion within the next three months and an additional Sh13 billion in the next financial year to keep HIV mitigation programmes afloat following the USAID funding freeze.
Health Director-General Patrick Amoth who says the government is exploring additional funding avenues to support the planned local production of HIV drugs. (Photo: X/KTTA)
The funding cuts, imposed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump, have left a gaping hole in Kenya’s health financing, with the government now facing the daunting task of raising Sh30 billion to sustain critical health programmes previously supported by USAID.
Nearly two months have passed since Trump issued a series of executive orders, including one freezing funding through USAID. The impact of these decisions continues to ripple across countries that relied on the aid to sustain vital health programmes, and Kenya is now grappling with the consequences.
“We are looking for Sh30 billion, and the money’s not there,” National Assembly Health Committee Chairman James Nyikal said.
Despite the crisis, some government officials view the situation as an opportunity for Kenya to build financial independence in the health sector.
President William Ruto’s Economic Advisor, Moses Kuria, said, “I am persuaded that this is the best thing to have happened to our country. How long were we expecting others to fund our essential services?”
The funding freeze has left a deficit of Sh30.9 billion in health financing, which the government must now bridge.
“We have not even touched on blood, nutrition, family planning,” Health Director General Patrick Amoth said highlighting the magnitude of the crisis.
Both county and national governments are now exploring ways to bridge the deficit, with their first stop being the National Assembly. However, before legislators act, both arms of government must work within the existing allocations.
“The second call to action is on MPs to increase allocations to the health sector, particularly for HIV and other programmes that were supported. We must prioritise financing for HR and commodities,” Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga suggested reallocating development funds to address the crisis.
“We can move some money from roads to health. I know it will not give us votes, but health is important,” he said.
To ensure sustainable financing of the health sector beyond the aid freeze, a high-level meeting resolved to take several measures, including, reorganising the existing health workforce, particularly those affected by the freeze, to support HIV services, boosting local manufacturing of essential medical supplies and integrating HIV, TB, and malaria care and treatment into the Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits package.
However, concerns were raised about the effectiveness of SHA in its current form.
“SHA is not working. I will tell Waziri… Call us so that we can tell you what is not working, or else you start working on what we term as an exit speech,” Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr said.
The National Treasury was also put on the spot for failing to attend the crucial meeting, despite its central role in determining health sector financing.
Kenya’s HIV response has historically relied heavily on donor funding. Between 2021 and 2022, approximately 63.5 per cent of the country’s HIV programme financing came from external sources, with the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) contributing 37 per cent.
However, recent global funding uncertainties, including the temporary suspension of Pepfar support by the US government, have exposed the vulnerabilities of donor dependence.
In recent budget cycles, the Kenyan government has allocated resources to sustain HIV programmes. In the 2024 financial year, the National Aids Control Council received Sh971.95 million, while the National AIDS Control Programme was allocated Sh144.75 million. Additionally, a Global Fund HIV grant contributed Sh4.03 billion to Kenya’s national response.
With donor support dwindling, the Ministry of Health is pushing for greater domestic investment in digital health infrastructure, ensuring that HIV care remains accessible and sustainable for all affected Kenyans.
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