Liason Group, RUPHA partner to boost healthcare in private hospitals

Private hospitals are set to benefit from a new transformation framework designed to strengthen their operations and align them with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

Liaison Group and the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) have rolled out RUPHA 360, a model aimed at helping private health facilities improve financial discipline, adopt digital tools, comply with national health reforms, and strengthen their internal systems.

The framework is anchored on four components.
The first focuses on financial sustainability, guiding facilities on structured planning, cost management, and risk control. This comes against the backdrop of low health insurance coverage in the informal sector, where 83.3% of Kenyans work, yet only 2% have national hospital insurance and 20% have public health insurance.

The second component is technology-driven efficiency. RUPHA 360 encourages facilities to integrate digital systems such as automated claims processing, patient data platforms, analytics dashboards, and improved reporting tools to enhance accuracy and reduce operational gaps.

The third pillar seeks to help facilities align with ongoing UHC reforms, particularly around regulatory compliance, quality standards, and reporting requirements.

The final component focuses on operational and staff capacity, including training, leadership development, and strengthening governance structures to support efficient service delivery.

Liaison Group Managing Director Tom Mulwa said the initiative aims to address long-standing challenges facing private providers, particularly around sustainability, limited digital uptake, and fragmented operational systems.

RUPHA Chairperson Dr. Brian Lishenga noted that improving the resilience and standards of private facilities is essential to achieving nationwide UHC, given their role in serving communities across the country.

The rollout comes at a time when many small and medium-sized private hospitals continue to grapple with underinsurance, inadequate financial buffers, and weak risk management practices that heighten their operational vulnerabilities.