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Civil society groups have called on the next government to increase financial resources to the health sector in the wake of the withdrawal of support by international donors.

The groups that met in Nairobi recommended that the budgetary allocation to the sector be increased from 3.5 per cent to five per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Since Kenya was ranked a lower-middle-income country by the World Bank in 2014, donors, especially in the health sector have been weaning the country of their support.

“We are not safe beyond 2027 as organisations such as the Global Fund withdraw their support. Unfortunately, 70 per cent of funds for treatment for HIV/Aids in Kenya is from external sources,” said Nelson Otwoma, the Executive Director of National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids.

Insurance fund

Samuel Kinyanjui from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Kenya urged the incoming government to zero rate tax commodities in the sector in order to make healthcare affordable to all.

The activists raised concern about the quality of healthcare services and  loss of resources to corruption.

In their proposals, the members called on the political leadership to ensure that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) implements strategies that ensure equity in health care access by covering medical bills for all paid up members and vulnerable populations.

They called upon political parties to prioritise the need to develop a cost essential benefits package embedded in NHIF.

The organisations recommended a policy framework guiding the implementation of global and regional commitments for health, coordination between national and county governments and taxation of health commodities.