Description
Background:The PEN-Plus strategy, endorsed by the WHO African Region in 2022, is an integrated model of care designed to expand access to quality services for severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at first-level referral facilities by training mid-level providers to deliver specialized care. The directive required member states to develop National Operational Plans (NOPs) for PEN-Plus, with a target of 50% adoption by 2025. Kenya, aiming to be a pioneer, is piloting PEN-Plus in two facilities and has committed to nationwide scale-up by 2030. To guide this process, we developed a PEN-Plus NOP to ensure government-led implementation, strengthen collaboration, quantify resources, and support advocacy.
Methods: We developed the NOP through a multi-stakeholder process involving divisions of the Ministry of Health, county governments, health economists, academia, and development partners. Two one-week workshops were convened. Phase one introduced participants to the PEN-Plus initiative and established consensus on the structure and content of the NOP. Phase two focused on defining the scale-up framework, developing a monitoring and evaluation matrix, and conducting activity-based costing. The process combined literature review, group brainstorming, structured presentations, and panel discussions
Results: We developed a comprehensive NOP outlining the epidemiology of severe NCDs, the supporting policy frameworks, and the strategic objectives for implementation. The plan defines the standards of care and incorporates lessons from pilot sites . Using the WHO health system pillars as a framework, we designed a three-phased scale-up strategy to onboard six counties per phase by 2030, supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. Costing analysis shows that approximately KES 1.8 billion will be required for full implementation, with provisions for both national roll-out and the establishment of individual PEN-Plus clinics
Conclusion: Kenya’s PEN-Plus NOP provides a structured policy guide for scaling this integrated model of care and offers a pioneering framework for other member states
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Government of Kenya |
| Received a Grant? | No |
