Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has renewed the government’s warning to all public health facilities charging for outpatient services.
Duale declared that any hospital or clinic that goes against the directive to offer such services free of charge will be treated as a crime scene and face decisive action.
“Any health facility that defies this presidential directive by charging for outpatient services will be treated as a crime scene and subjected to the full force of the law,” he said.
Duale’s statement reinforces President William Ruto’s announcement made during the burial of former legislator Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay on August 8, 2025.
Ruto ordered that all outpatient services at public health facilities, from dispensaries to sub-county hospitals (Levels 1 to 4), must be provided free of charge.
The directive is part of the government’s broader initiative under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to implement universal health coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
The SHA package covers free consultations, diagnostics, medications, and basic radiology such as X-rays and ultrasounds, as well as laboratory tests and immunisations.
It also includes maternal and child care, including antenatal and postnatal services, management of non-communicable diseases, mental health support, and minor outpatient procedures.
To ensure adherence to the policy, Duale urged citizens to report facilities that continue charging patients.
The government has already suspended 40 hospitals from the SHA programme due to alleged fraudulent behaviour.
According to the Ministry of Health, a review uncovered multiple fraudulent practices, including upcoding, claiming for more expensive procedures than those performed, falsification of records, submitting altered medical information to inflate claims and conversion of outpatient visits to inpatient care.
Others are billing for services patients deny receiving, multiple billing and ghost patients and collusion between facilities to claim for the same patient.
Duale added that any violation of the directive amounts to an offence, describing such defiance as a breach of public trust and a denial of the right to accessible, affordable healthcare.
“Such actions will attract immediate legal consequences and will be treated as a direct violation of the government’s commitment to free Primary Health Care- an offence against both public trust and the right of every Kenyan to quality, affordable services,” he said.
Speaking Tuesday during an event in Homa Bay, Ruto warned health facilities against attempting to steal public funds.
“Hospitali yoyote ambayo itajaribu kuiba pesa ya wananchi itakutana na mimi. Pesa ya serikali ni ya kitibu wananchi sio ya kuenda kufanyia biashara,” he said
by FELIX KIPKEMOI
