Panel outlines roadmap to fast-track Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage drive
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 4, 2026The Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP), inaugurated in May 2025 to guide the implementation of Kenya’s Social Health Insurance (SHI) programme, has outlined a comprehensive roadmap to accelerate the country’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The roadmap seeks to ensure that all Kenyans have access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare services within the next five years.
The Panel, composed of experts in health economics, epidemiology, actuarial science, health policy, and clinical practice, is mandated to review and recommend an evidence-based Essential Health Benefits Package, and advise on fair tariffs for healthcare services.
During a stakeholder engagement on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Benefits Package Development held late last year, the BPTAP Joint Secretariat highlighted the critical role of HTA in shaping the country’s health benefit package. HTA is a structured, transparent, and scientific process used globally to evaluate the medical, social, economic, and ethical implications of health interventions.
It supports policymakers in determining which services and technologies should be funded under national health schemes based on their effectiveness, value for money, and impact on population health.
“Our mandate is to translate Kenya’s health priorities into a defined benefits package and fair tariffs, making the system more transparent, efficient, and equitable for all,” said Dr. Tabitha Okech, representing the BPTAP Joint Secretariat.
“Through Health Technology Assessment, we are anchoring health financing decisions on solid evidence, ensuring that every shilling spent on healthcare delivers the greatest benefit to the Kenyan people. We are moving away from ad-hoc decisions to a structured, data-driven process that balances cost, quality and access.”
Strengthening Kenya’s HTA framework
Kenya’s efforts to institutionalise HTA began in 2018 under the Health Benefits Package Advisory Panel (HBPAP), which designed the country’s first Essential Health Benefits Package (EHBP) for UHC.
The HBPAP laid the groundwork by defining inclusion criteria for health services, conducting costing studies, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, NHIF, county governments, research institutions, professional associations, and development partners.
Significant progress has also been made through Kenya’s collaboration with Thailand’s Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) International (UK),which provided technical assistance and long-term training on integrating HTA into national health policy.
The partnership helped build local capacity in evidence appraisal, priority setting, and cost-effectiveness analysis — elements that are now being mainstreamed into the BPTAP’s work.
The current BPTAP roadmap builds on these foundations by revising and expanding the Essential Health Benefits Package (EHBP) to align with Kenya’s evolving disease burden, demographic shifts, and fiscal realities. The roadmap envisions a phased approach that progressively expands coverage based on affordability and evidence of impact, while promoting transparency in pricing and equitable access across all counties.
“Universal Health Coverage is not just about increasing the number of services available; it is about ensuring that the right services reach the right people at the right cost,” added Dr. Okech. Embedding HTA into our national systems, we are bridging the gap between science and policy, strengthening public trust, and ensuring that UHC remains both sustainable and impactful.”
The BPTAP continues to engage stakeholders across government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to refine Kenya’s HTA framework and ensure that benefit design reflects national priorities and citizen needs. Its recommendations will guide the Social Health Insurance Authority (SHIA) in defining the scope of coverage, setting service tariffs, and monitoring the implementation of the benefits package under UHC.
Through these coordinated efforts, Kenya is laying a strong foundation for a fair, efficient, and sustainable health financing system, one that ensures no Kenyan is left behind in the country’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage.