NAIROBI — Kenya’s government has introduced a new bill aimed at overhauling the healthcare system to better protect patients, resolve disputes faster, and bring accountability to both public and private health services.
The Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, was announced Monday at a national health forum led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. The bill is part of a broader legislative push to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“This bill marks a critical turning point in our journey toward a health system that is people-centered, efficient, and fair,” said Duale during the announcement. “It’s about restoring trust, ensuring safety, and improving justice in healthcare.”
The proposed law outlines several major reforms. It introduces a national Healthcare Tribunal that would handle conflicts between patients, doctors, and hospitals. This tribunal is expected to speed up dispute resolution, ensure fair hearings, and enforce accountability.
The bill also seeks to regulate newer medical services such as aesthetic treatments under the same standards applied to traditional medicine. Officials say this is necessary to close legal loopholes and protect patients receiving non-conventional procedures.
Five key UHC pillars support the bill’s framework: fully funded primary healthcare, digital tools like telemedicine, financial oversight through coordination with the Treasury and counties, an Emergency Medical Treatment Fund, and expanded access to Social Health Insurance.
According to Ministry officials, these pillars have already begun rolling out, and the new bill aims to bind them into a single, enforceable legal framework.
The proposal comes at a time when trust in the public health system has been strained. Duale said the bill will give patients and providers a fair legal process and encourage professional conduct across the health sector.
“Laws alone won’t deliver quality care,” he said. “We need honest input from everyone patients, practitioners, and policymakers to make this work for the country.”
If passed, the bill will also support Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals by setting clear national health standards and reducing inequality in access to care. It reflects growing pressure on government to create more transparent and reliable healthcare services, especially as the country prepares for a nationwide UHC rollout.
Public consultations are expected in the coming weeks before the bill heads to Parliament for debate. The Ministry of Health has urged all health stakeholders to engage with the process and provide feedback to ensure the final law reflects the needs of both patients and medical professionals.
