State Department for Medical Services

03/02/2026

Kenya–Japan Health Collaboration Strengthened to Advance UHC

Kenya and Japan have reaffirmed their health sector partnership following a consultative meeting between the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, and a Japanese delegation led by H.E. Ambassador Matsuura Hiroshi, held at Afya House, Nairobi.

The discussions focused on advancing Universal Health Coverage through strengthened local manufacturing of health products and technologies, including vaccines and biologics, as well as technology transfer, skills development, and health innovation.

The meeting was attended by Nazila Ganatara, Director, Health Products and Technologies; Omar Ahmed, Health Sector Coordination; and Rabera Kenyanya of the Kenya BioVax Institute, alongside other senior Ministry of Health officials.

02/02/2026

JOOTRH Sets the Pace for Paperless Healthcare

A high-level delegation of Principal Secretaries has commended Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) for its successful transition to a fully paperless, digitised healthcare system.

The visit was led by Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, and included Carren Achieng Ageng’o (Children Welfare Services), Regina Akoth Ombam (Trade), and Fikirini Jacobs (Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy).

During the tour, the delegation followed the patient journey at the Accident and Emergency Department, where manual registers have been replaced by an integrated digital process from registration to treatment. The team reviewed the AfyaKE system, which links clinical, laboratory, pharmacy, and records services, enabling real-time communication, seamless referrals across JOOTRH facilities, and elimination of lost patient files.

JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise confirmed that the hospital is now fully paperless, with leadership able to monitor patient volumes, prescriptions, and laboratory and pharmacy outputs through real-time dashboards.

The visit underscores the Government’s commitment to digital health transformation under the Social Health Authority framework, ensuring efficient, transparent, and patient-centred care.

31/01/2026

30/01/2026

30/01/2026

The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, on Thursday launched the Kenya Dental Association (KDA) 2026–2030 Strategic Plan in Nairobi, urging the dental profession to address persistent gaps in access, equity, and public trust in oral healthcare.

He noted that despite KDA’s 65-year history, millions of Kenyans have never accessed dental services, citing this as a systemic failure highlighted by a recent preventable death linked to unsafe dental care. Dr. Oluga cautioned against perceptions of dentistry as a preserve of the privileged and stressed that advocacy must be driven by clear social problems, evidence, and public trust.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage and the Social Health Authority, he called on the profession to align with national health reforms and develop a clear, people-centred blueprint for oral healthcare delivery across all communities.

29/01/2026

KUTRRH Hits Major Milestones Following Successful Kidney Transplants
https://bit.ly/3NE6Dtw

28/01/2026

KENYA'S HEALTH FRONTLINEMedical Services PS Dr.Oluga Ouma : There were a lot of doctor's demonstrations before I came into office, but when I gave the Health...

28/01/2026

KENYA'S HEALTH FRONTLINE PS Oluga : So far 29 million Kenyans have registered for SHA. 10,000 hospitals have contracts with SHA. We have trained 55,000 w...

28/01/2026

PS Oluga Calls for Practical Data Sovereignty to Improve Health Outcomes

27/01/2026

A call for practical, people-centred data sovereignty that puts lives and health outcomes first.