Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, inaugurated the Health Benefits and Tariffs Advisory Panel (HBTAP) in May, kick-starting the group’s efforts towards ensuring access to quality healthcare in the country.
The HBTAP, according to Duale, will provide expert advice on the design and review of benefit packages and tariffs under the Social Health Insurance framework. The panel will deliver on its mandate through a process that is evidence-based, equitable, financially-sustainable, and aligned with national health priorities.
“This initiative marks a significant step in strengthening partnerships across government, academia, the private sector, and civil society. Such collaboration will ensure transparency, accountability, and broad stakeholder input—crucial ingredients for achieving affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Kenyans under the principle of “Leaving No One Behind,” said Duale.
The Panel, hosted at the University of Nairobi (UoN), College of Health Sciences, will be augmented by a secretariat comprising Health Technology specialists based at Center for Epidemiological and Modelling Analysis (CEMA).
Hosting the Panel at the UoN is part of the government’s plan to Institutionalize the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process in Kenya and to ensure the institution’s contribution to academic and technical expertise that underpins high-quality, evidence-informed decision making.
“To enhance the effectiveness of our Social Health Insurance system, we must adopt data-driven decision-making, prioritize cost-effective interventions, strengthen public-private partnerships, and leverage digital solutions to improve service delivery and policy evaluation,” Duale said.
