Kenya's journey towards universal health coverage, symbolized by a transforming map into a healthy body.

Universal Healthcare in Kenya: Are We Making Progress?

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study examines Kenya's strides towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.8, revealing gaps and opportunities for achieving universal health coverage."

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is more than just a buzzword; it's a global commitment enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The promise of UHC is simple, yet profound: every person, everywhere, should have access to quality healthcare without facing financial ruin. For countries like Kenya, this goal represents a critical step towards a healthier, more equitable society.

But how do we measure progress towards such an ambitious goal? It's not enough to simply wish for UHC; we need concrete metrics to track our advancements, identify the challenges, and fine-tune our strategies. That's where a recent study published in BMJ Global Health steps in, offering a comprehensive look at Kenya's journey towards UHC between 2003 and 2013.

This article breaks down the study's key findings, revealing both the strides Kenya has made and the significant gaps that remain. We'll explore what these insights mean for the average Kenyan, and what reforms are needed to ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they deserve.

Decoding Kenya's UHC Progress: Service Coverage and Financial Protection

Kenya's journey towards universal health coverage, symbolized by a transforming map into a healthy body.

The study, led by Edwine Barasa and colleagues, developed a summary index for UHC, focusing on two core dimensions: service coverage (SC) and financial risk protection (FRP). Service coverage encompasses the availability and utilization of essential health services, while financial risk protection assesses the extent to which people are shielded from financial hardship when seeking care. By analyzing data from national household surveys, the researchers were able to paint a detailed picture of Kenya's UHC landscape.

Here’s a breakdown of what the study revealed:

Service Coverage (SC): The weighted summary indicator for SC increased from 27.65% in 2003 to 41.73% in 2013. This suggests that more Kenyans are accessing essential health services, such as antenatal care, immunizations, and treatment for common illnesses.
Financial Risk Protection (FRP): Surprisingly, the summary indicator for FRP decreased from 69.82% in 2003 to 63.78% in 2013. This indicates that more Kenyans are facing financial hardship due to healthcare costs, potentially due to rising out-of-pocket payments.
Inequities Persist: The study also highlighted significant inequities in both SC and FRP. This means that the benefits of UHC are not being shared equally, with some groups (particularly the poor) lagging behind.
Overall UHC Measure: Combining SC and FRP, the weighted summary measure of UHC increased from 43.94% in 2003 to 51.55% in 2013. While this represents progress, it also underscores the considerable distance Kenya still needs to travel to achieve true UHC.

These findings paint a mixed picture. While service coverage has improved, financial risk protection has declined, and inequities persist across the board. This suggests that Kenya's current approach to UHC may be inadvertently leaving some people behind.

The Path Forward: Reforming Health Financing for Equitable UHC

The study's authors emphasize that significant gaps remain in Kenya's quest to achieve UHC. To bridge these gaps, they call for targeted health financing reforms focused on both service coverage and financial risk protection. This means increasing public funding for health, scaling up prepayment mechanisms (like health insurance), and reducing reliance on out-of-pocket payments. By prioritizing these reforms, Kenya can move closer to a future where quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege, for all its citizens.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000904, Alternate LINK

Title: Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 On Universal Health Coverage In Kenya

Subject: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal: BMJ Global Health

Publisher: BMJ

Authors: Edwine Barasa, Peter Nguhiu, Di Mcintyre

Published: 2018-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Universal Health Coverage and why is it important in this context?

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a global commitment and a key aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to quality healthcare services without experiencing financial hardship. In the context of this information, UHC represents a crucial step towards a healthier and more equitable society. The implications of UHC are that everyone should have access to healthcare they deserve.

What does Service Coverage mean, and what was the trend observed in the study?

Service Coverage (SC) measures the availability and utilization of essential health services. The study found that the weighted summary indicator for SC in Kenya increased from 27.65% in 2003 to 41.73% in 2013. This increase indicates more people are accessing vital services. This progress is significant because it shows that more people are getting access to basic services such as antenatal care, immunizations, and treatment for common illnesses. The implication is a better health outcome for those accessing the services, this increase is positive, but it is not enough, more progress is required.

What is Financial Risk Protection, and what did the study reveal about it?

Financial Risk Protection (FRP) assesses how well people are shielded from financial hardship when seeking healthcare. The study showed that the FRP in Kenya *decreased* from 69.82% in 2003 to 63.78% in 2013. This decline means that a greater number of Kenyans are experiencing financial difficulties due to healthcare costs, possibly because of rising out-of-pocket payments. The implication of declining FRP is that healthcare is becoming less affordable for a larger portion of the population, potentially preventing them from seeking necessary care.

What does the study say about the inequities in Universal Health Coverage?

The study's analysis revealed that significant inequities persist in both Service Coverage (SC) and Financial Risk Protection (FRP) in Kenya. This means that the benefits of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) are not being shared equally, with some groups, particularly the poor, experiencing less access and more financial hardship. The implications are that vulnerable populations are being left behind, which undermines the goal of equitable access to healthcare for all.

What reforms are suggested to improve Universal Health Coverage?

To advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the authors of the study suggest focusing on health financing reforms to improve both Service Coverage (SC) and Financial Risk Protection (FRP). The proposed reforms include increasing public funding for health, expanding prepayment mechanisms (like health insurance), and reducing the reliance on out-of-pocket payments. The implications of these reforms are that healthcare would become more affordable and accessible for all Kenyans, moving the country closer to the goal of ensuring that quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege, for all citizens.