PS Oluga demands transparent healthcare financing as Outspan marks 25 years

Speaking in Nyeri on Sunday, during Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital's 25th Anniversary celebrations, Dr. Oluga emphasized the critical role of the Social Health Authority (SHA) in strengthening healthcare financing systems and ensuring improved reimbursements to healthcare providers across the country.

The Principal Secretary cited the Outspan Academic and Healthcare Ecosystem, which integrates OTRH's delivery operations with Outspan Global University's medical training programmes, as a model demonstrating how clinical practice, education and research can converge to elevate healthcare excellence.

"This integrated approach brings specialised services closer to communities, reducing the burden on patients who would otherwise travel long distances seeking quality care," Dr. Oluga said. He spotlighted the institution's two-and-a-half decade trajectory, from its inception as an outpatient facility in 2001 to its current status as a comprehensive academic and healthcare centre serving the Mt. Kenya region and beyond.

The government official called for healthcare professionals combining technical expertise with genuine compassion, urging training institutions to nurture responsibility, courage and commitment among students to strengthen patient-centred care delivery.

He also championed greater investment in research, development and locally-driven innovation to fortify Kenya's health security and reduce dependence on foreign solutions, particularly during pandemics and supply disruptions affecting essential health products and technologies.

Dr. Oluga reaffirmed the Government's commitment to collaborating with institutions like Outspan to strengthen healthcare delivery, health professions training and innovation, while protecting households from financial hardship caused by illness and reducing preventable deaths.

The Principal Secretary welcomed Outspan's ambition to attain Level 6 status and transition into a fully-fledged university teaching and referral hospital, assuring the institution of continued ministry support. He launched the Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital and Outspan Global University Strategic Plan 2026-2035, a 10-year roadmap focusing on expanding specialised healthcare services, health professions training, research and innovation, and digital health infrastructure.