Events

Background

Kenya continues to experience a rising burden of cancer, with cervical, breast, and prostate cancers among the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality, compounded by late-stage diagnosis linked to limited access to screening and treatment services.

At the same time, Primary Health Care (PHC) remains the foundation of a cost-effective and equitable health system, yet its PHC services reimbursement rates are not informed by robust costing data across counties and facility levels. For SHA to set fair, evidence-based tariffs and to guarantee sustainable financing of these services, accurate and standardised costs are required.

Understanding exactly what happens, and what it costs, at every stage of a patient’s pathway as they come to the hospital is essential to fixing this. Under Kenya’s Social Health Insurance framework, the Essential Benefits Package (EBP) must be reviewed two yearly or on need basis to remain responsive to disease burden and real costs of care. Yet many services, including PHC and cancer screening and management, have not been costed across counties and facility levels.

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)’s Advancing Resilient and Self-Reliant Health Systems project in collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Council of Governors,  is hosting a workshop on Costing of Primary Health Care (PHC) Services and Cancer Screening and Management for evidence-based review and update of Essential Benefits Package for Decision-making.

Date:

July 20-24, July 28 – August 1, 2026

Venue:

Sarova Woodlands, Nakuru, Kenya

Objective:

To determine the unit costs of Primary Health Care services and proposed cancer screening and management interventions using an Activity-Based Costing approach, to inform tariff recommendations and the costed Essential Benefits Package under the Social Health Authority.

Participants:

Participants are drawn from Ministry of Health and Social Health Authority (SHA) financing and tariffs teams, Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) Secretariat and Technical Working Group members, county health management teams, PHC and oncology clinical leads, health economists and costing experts, and development partner representatives.

Why this matters

Sustainable Universal Health Coverage depends on accurate costing. Without it, we risk underfunding essential services and leaving patients to bear the gap. This collaboration reflects AFIDEP’s continued commitment to generating the evidence Kenya needs to strengthen its health financing systems and move closer to equitable, affordable healthcare for all.