KNH, Kisii hospital handed Sh1.1bn boost for cancer battle

A section of the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.  

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Kenyatta National Hospital and Kisii Level 5 Hospital have received a Sh1.1 billion boost from the government to strengthen cancer management across the country.

This is an increase of 54.5 percent from the Sh500 million allocated in the financial year 2023/24, showing a bigger commitment to fighting the killer disease.

The government aims to bring life-saving cancer services closer to the community, thereby reducing the financial burden on thousands of patients who struggle to afford treatment.

“The government will align all healthcare policies with the social Health scheme. Social Health Insurance Fund will be key to affording all Kenyans access to healthcare with more benefits. I propose Sh1.1 billion to be allocated for cancer management and diagnosis at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kisii Level 5 Hospital,” Mr Njuguna Ndung’u, Treasury Cabinet Secretary said last week in Parliament.

Currently, a significant proportion of cancer screening services in the country are funded through out-of-pocket payments. A full cycle of treatment for breast cancer can cost up to Sh50,000, chemotherapy for cervical cancer up to Sh40,000, and colon cancer treatment between Sh80,000 and Sh100,000.

Despite the high cost of treatment, the country relies on nine well-established facilities to provide comprehensive cancer remedial services, of which only three are classified as public facilities.

Ranked as the third leading cause of death in Kenya, cancer is a major public health menace that places an onerous burden on families, communities, and the health system.

Approximately 27,000 people in Kenya lose their lives to cancer each year and about 82,000 people are currently living with the disease. The most common cancers are breast, cervical, prostate, oesophageal, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which together account for 48 percent of the country's cancer burden.

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