Latest news with #OumaOluga
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Commodity Security at the Core of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Delivery, Says Principal Secretary (PS) Medical Services
Commodity security is a cornerstone of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga has said, calling for renewed leadership, innovation, and alignment in the management of Health Products and Technologies (HPTs). Speaking during a strategic meeting with the Directorate of Health Products and Technologies, the Principal Secretary emphasized the urgency of building resilient systems to secure access to essential medical products. 'Health Products and Technologies management and local manufacturing are key,' she said. 'Our experience with centrally managed commodities—such as cancer drugs and COVID-19 supplies—has shown us the need for long-term sustainability.' The PS urged the Directorate to align its operations with the Ministry of Health's mandate and national priorities, emphasizing the need for product safety, quality assurance, and reliable access. 'Provide firm leadership. Ensure the safety of HPTs—let the industry have confidence that our products are safe,' he stated. He further challenged the Directorate to tackle recurring stockouts—especially of vaccines and essential medicines—while eliminating substandard products. 'We must ensure consistent access to vaccines and essential medicines. This is about restoring public trust and delivering real outcomes.' Calling for innovation, discipline, and measurable impact, the PS noted that upcoming budgetary reforms will be tied to results. 'Roll up your sleeves and work. Invest resources where we see real impact—not where there's no movement. Parliament and all partners are watching. To whom much is given, much is expected.' The meeting brought together key divisions under the Directorate—including Quality Assurance, HPTs, and Traditional and Alternative Medicine—to evaluate progress and refine strategic priorities. These include: Promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing; Strengthening national supply chain policy; Updating clinical guidance and Reviewing the Kenya National Pharmaceutical Policy To support these priorities, the Ministry is finalizing four strategic frameworks: Local Manufacturing Strategy; National Supply Chain Strategy; Health Product Donations Strategy and Pharmacy Benefits Package Dissemination of the updated Essential Medicines List is ongoing. A major recent milestone includes the development of National Oxygen Delivery Guidelines, enhancing access to life-saving respiratory care. Looking ahead, the Ministry is scaling up its focus on research and regulation of traditional medicine. A draft policy and bill on Traditional and Alternative Medicine are currently under review to guide safe integration into the healthcare system. The meeting was attended by Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, Head of Directorate Dr. Tom Menge, and other senior officials. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Zawya
02-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Ouma Oluga Calls for Unified Effort to Deliver Results under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Restore Public Trust in Health Sector
Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, reaffirmed the Ministry of Health's commitment to ensuring that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) delivers tangible results for Kenyans. Speaking during a strategy meeting with the Directorate of Policy, Digital Health, and Innovations, Dr. Oluga stressed that restoring public trust in the health system is non-negotiable. 'Our work must restore order to the health sector, promote the health of our people, reduce the burden of disease, and lower mortality rates,' Dr. Oluga stated. 'UHC implementation must be seamless and impactful to regain public confidence.' Dr. Oluga emphasized that change requires a new way of doing things, urging all staff to engage fully and work collaboratively. 'Everyone must contribute and work together. Public trust depends on how we show up, how we deliver, and how we lead.' He urged staff to reflect on the Ministry's role in terms of policy, emphasizing that everything they do must be secured and maintained for the benefit of Kenyans. 'What you do must outlive you. The work of the State Department of Medical Services does not exist in isolation. It must align with the broader Ministry agenda. It is essential that we deliver the full mandate of this State Department and work together to achieve our collective goals.' Dr. Oluga stressed the importance of reorganizing and strengthening health systems to achieve better outcomes, calling on teams to prioritize actions that have real, measurable impact. 'Our challenge is not a lack of resources—it's how we prioritize. We must focus on what works and scale it.' He highlighted that innovation must guide both the use of existing resources and the mobilization of new ones. 'Let's be strategic. We must align our efforts with the government's health agenda to stay focused on what the country expects us to achieve.' Committed to fostering collaboration and accountability, Dr. Oluga reaffirmed his open-door policy and emphasized that institutional stability relies on discipline, adherence to rules, and a strong work ethic. 'Apply yourself fully to the task at hand. Discipline, commitment, and clarity of purpose are key.' Dr. Oluga reminded the staff that meaningful change often comes from simple, consistent actions. 'Real transformation isn't always about complex solutions. Sometimes, it's the simple things we do consistently that create the greatest impact. We need big, straightforward ideas that will have a ripple effect across the system.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Kenya: Health Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Ouma Oluga Commends Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital's (MTRH) Role in Advancing Universal Health Coverage
Principal Secretary for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ouma Oluga, made his inaugural visit to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) on 28th April 2025 to assess service delivery and progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). During the visit, Dr. Oluga commended MTRH for its leadership in providing specialized healthcare services, training, and research. He noted that the hospital treats over 1.5 million patients annually, performs more than 60,000 surgeries, and conducts over 2 million laboratory tests, positioning it among the most important health institutions in the country. Touring key facilities including the Radiotherapy Centre, Renal Centre, Catheterisation Laboratory (Cathlab), and specialized MRI services, Dr. Oluga praised the hospital's efforts to expand access to advanced medical care within the region. He lauded MTRH's partnerships with international institutions in North America and Europe, which continue to strengthen its clinical and research capacities. Dr. Oluga also highlighted the hospital's successful integration of the Social Health Authority (SHA) model, which has improved insurance processing and patient access to care. Emphasizing the Ministry's focus on strengthening healthcare delivery, Dr. Oluga called for enhanced collaboration between referral hospitals and county health facilities. He noted that reducing patient congestion at MTRH requires building capacity in county hospitals to manage non-critical cases locally. 'There are three critical pillars in the health sector: restoring public trust, upholding integrity, and delivering quality services,' said Dr. Oluga. 'Every health worker must understand their role in delivering efficient and dignified care.' The Principal Secretary was received by MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa, Board Members, and senior management. He was accompanied by Mr. Douglas Bosire, Acting CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, and Ms. Agnes Tuiyot, representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Health Authority. MTRH serves patients from 27 counties in Western Kenya, supporting a population of over 25 million people. Dr. Oluga affirmed the Ministry's commitment to supporting institutions like MTRH in delivering on the government's healthcare agenda. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Principal Secretary (PS) Oluga Rallies Directorate Heads to Drive Delivery of National Health Priorities
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has called on directorate heads to exhibit strong leadership and unwavering commitment in driving the Ministry of Health's national agenda, with a focus on advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening key health services. Speaking during a strategic meeting with directorate heads, Dr. Oluga underscored the department's critical role in actualizing the national government's health priorities. He emphasized the need for alignment of directorate activities with existing policy frameworks and called for periodic reviews to ensure that all efforts remain focused and results-oriented. 'We must be champions of change,' said Dr. Oluga, stressing the importance of sustainability, resource mobilization, and innovation in addressing persistent challenges such as the medical internship programme. He further highlighted the need to build and sustain public trust through demonstrated action and accountability, noting that 'public trust begins when we will.' The Principal Secretary pledged his support to teams based on measurable results and called for better alignment between priorities and available resources. He advocated for stronger collaboration across directorates, encouraged an open-door policy, and called for the resolution of cross-cutting issues through synergy and coordinated action. Dr. Oluga also emphasized the importance of showcasing ongoing progress, protecting gains made, and restoring systems where necessary. During the meeting, he received briefs from the Directorates of Curative and Nursing Services, Family Health, Health Products and Technologies, and Policy, Digital Health and Innovation. The meeting was also attended by the Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, among other senior officials. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
