Description
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 50% of hospital admissions in Kenya, and NCDs have also been pronounced to bear the burden of 39% of deaths, thereby posing a major threat to the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda of the government. NCD prevention and control programs continue to be underfunded due to their dependence on donor funding, resulting in further disconnection from integration into primary healthcare systems.
The study sought to (i) assess the adequacy and sustainability of health financing for NCDs within PHC, (ii) identify policy gaps that hinder integration, and (iii) recommend policy and financing strategies for strengthening equitable NCD service delivery.
A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted in five counties representative of urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. Quantitative data were collected through structured surveys in 25 health facilities and among 150 healthcare workers, whereas qualitative data originated from 15 key informant interviews with policymakers, county health managers, and financing stakeholders. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data.
Findings indicate that only 32% of facilities are provided by PHC with a dedicated budget line for NCDs, while the rest (68%) rely on out-of-pocket payments or external partners; inadequate training and resources for NCD integration were reported by 74%. Policies were analyzed, revealing inconsistency in policy adoption at the county level, with only 40% of county health budgets aligning with national NCD strategic plans.
Kenya's journey toward the integration of NCD services into PHC is confronted by fragmented financing and weak policy enactment. Improving the allocation of domestic resources, linking county budgets to national NCD strategies, and building local capacity become pertinent to sustain such activities toward NCD prevention and control.
Keywords: Non-communicable diseases, primary health care, health financing, health policy, Universal Health Coverage, Kenya.
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Research Institution |
| Position | Monitoring and Evaluation |
| Received a Grant? | No |
| If yes, give grant details | N/A |
