The Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET) has launched Tiba Mashinani, a health financing initiative providing loans to private primary healthcare facilities in the Lake Region Economic Bloc, aiming to improve access to quality medical care.
The Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET) has introduced a new health financing initiative called Tiba Mashinani, aimed at enhancing access to quality medical care in private primary healthcare facilities, including pharmacies and clinics, within the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB). Funded with Sh20 million, the program offers loans ranging from Sh50,000 to Sh500,000 at a 13% interest rate, designed to empower these facilities to improve service delivery through restocking essential supplies, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding services.
Dr. Monica Ogutu, KMET’s Founding Executive Director, emphasized the initiative’s focus on improving healthcare financing and resources for remote facilities to provide quality care. The program is open to duly registered and licensed facilities, with KMET monitoring their performance to ensure quality and positive clinical outcomes. The initiative responds to challenges faced by small and medium-sized private healthcare providers, who often struggle with limited financial resources, impacting their service quality. By providing affordable credit, KMET aims to stimulate the primary healthcare sector’s growth, benefiting millions of residents in the region. Dr. Ogutu expressed a vision for these facilities to operate similarly to “mini supermarkets” of healthcare, offering comprehensive services. KMET has a history of supporting healthcare improvements, particularly in maternal and child health, reproductive health, and disease prevention. Through training, supply distribution, and outreach programs, the organization has contributed to reducing maternal deaths in 42 counties. The initiative has received support from local health authorities, such as Kisumu County Director for Medical Services, Dr. Ogola Don Sande, who noted its potential to enhance the capacity of private health facilities and improve regional health indicators. KMET plans to monitor the fund’s impact and may scale up allocations to assist more facilities in the future.
