Aasai

Health Minister Aden Duale has issued a government warning to all public health centers that charge outpatient services. Duale announced that any hospital or clinic that violates the order to provide such services free of charge will be considered a crime scene and effective action will be taken.

 "Any health center that defies this presidential order by charging outpatient services will be treated as a crime scene and upholds the full force of the law," he said. Duales statement reinforces President William Rutos announcement during the funeral of former MP Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay on August 8, 2025.

Ruto ordered that all outpatient services in public health facilities, from clinics to sub-county hospitals (Levels 1 to 4), must be provided free of charge. The directive is part of a wider government initiative under the Community Health Authority (SHA) to implement universal health care (UHC) in Kenya. The SHA package covers free consultation, screening, medicine, and basic radiology such as X-rays and ultrasounds, as well as laboratory tests and vaccines.

 It also includes mother and child care, including prenatal and postnatal services, non-communicable disease control, mental health support, and minor outpatient procedures. In order to ensure compliance with the policy, Duale asked citizens to report to centers that continue to charge patients. The government has already closed 40 hospitals from the SHA program due to alleged fraudulent behavior. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the review found numerous deceptive practices, including record keeping, demanding more expensive procedures than those performed, falsification of records, filing altered medical information to increase claims and conversion of outpatient visits to patient care. Another is the payment of services to patients who refuse to receive, high bills and air patients and cooperation between claim centers for one patient.

 Duale added that any violation of the order amount to a misdemeanor, describing defiance as a breach of public trust and a denial of the right to affordable health care. "Such measures will attract immediate legal consequences and will be considered a direct violation of the governments commitment to the elimination of Primary Health Care - an offense against public trust and the right of every Kenyan to access quality and enlightened services," he said.

 Speaking on Tuesday during an event in Homa Bay, Ruto warned health centers against trying to steal public money. "Any hospital that tries to steal peoples money will meet me. The governments money is for treating the people, not for going to do business," he said.