By Michelle Ndaga
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through an expanded partnership with Siemens Healthineers, with a key focus on improving cancer care across Kenya.
During a strategic meeting with a Siemens Healthineers delegation led by Vice President for Public Sector Engagement Kevin Ani Massoudi, CS Duale highlighted the government’s ongoing health sector reforms aimed at ensuring access to affordable, quality care without financial hardship.
As part of this effort, regional cancer centres are being established in Mombasa, Nakuru, and Garissa, bringing specialised services closer to communities.
Duale also cited progress under the National Equipment Service Project (NESP), which is boosting access to diagnostic and treatment equipment nationwide.
The CS underscored Kenya’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Roche, which has reduced the cost of Herceptin therapy for breast cancer patients from Ksh.120,000 to Ksh.40,000 per session, now fully covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Talks with Siemens Healthineers focused on developing sustainable Service Level Agreements (SLAs), deploying AI and digital platforms, advancing capacity building, and promoting technology transfer to strengthen health systems.
Duale praised Siemens Healthineers’ contribution to expanding access to radiotherapy and diagnostics, announcing the creation of a joint technical working group to advance SLAs, digital health innovations, and NESP-aligned equipment models. This, he said, would position Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable cancer care.
He was accompanied by Dr. Ouma Oluga (PS for Medical Services), Dr. Patrick Amoth (Director General for Health), and Dr. Elias Melly (CEO, National Cancer Institute of Kenya), among other senior ministry officials.
