Abstract
Kenya is a rapidly developing country with a growing economy and evolving health care system. In the decade since the last publication on the state of emergency care in Kenya, significant developments have occurred in the country's approach to emergency care. Importantly, the country decentralized most health care functions to county governments in 2013. Despite the triple burden of traumatic, communicable, and non-communicable diseases, the structure of the health care system in the Republic of Kenya is evolving to adapt to the important role for the care of emergent medical conditions. This report provides a ten-year interval update on the current state of the development of emergency medical care and training in Kenya, and looks ahead towards areas for growth and development. Of particular focus is the role emergency care plays in Universal Health Coverage, and adapting to challenges from the devolution of health care.
Highlights
Emergency health conditions represent a high burden of disease and improved care provides an opportunity for a healthier Kenya [1,2]
Emergent conditions account for substantial morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) yet care for these conditions has been a neglected area of health systems in much of the world [3,4,5]
Gains could still be made by empowering the existing human resources that work in emergency care. This challenge is not unique to Kenya or even LMICs but does highlight the near-constant loss of institutional and emergency care knowledge as providers often move to other career opportunities or medical specialties
Summary
Emergency health conditions represent a high burden of disease and improved care provides an opportunity for a healthier Kenya [1,2]. As most healthcare in Kenya is provided outside of the highest level six health facilities, each county government is responsible for building and maintaining an emergency care system. The Kenya Medical Training College currently offers an 18-month program, the Higher Diploma in Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, which is available to both clinical officers and medical officers [41].
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