The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening cancer care in Kenya, saying the health system must prioritise improved patient experience and better treatment outcomes.
Dr. Oluga was speaking during the 2nd Artificial Intelligence in Health Workshop held at Kenyatta National Hospital to mark World Cancer Day.
He said the fight against cancer requires a people-centred approach supported by innovation, research, training, and strengthened clinical pathways.
“We have been given a duty to do only two things to make the experiences of our patients better and to improve outcomes,” he said.
The Principal Secretary said World Cancer Day provides an opportunity to renew national focus on cancer prevention, early detection, and improved care, in addition to remembering lives lost to the disease.
Dr. Oluga noted that cancer remains a major global health challenge and said Kenya is experiencing a rising burden due to increased life expectancy and the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases.
He expressed concern over late diagnosis, stating that many patients take up to five months to receive a confirmed diagnosis. He attributed this to cancer symptoms that often resemble other illnesses and missed opportunities for early detection at frontline health facilities.
“From every single dispensary, any health professional engaging with a patient must maintain a high index of suspicion,” he said.
Dr. Oluga added that early detection must be supported by patient-centred care and empathy to enable thorough clinical assessment.
“You cannot have a high index of suspicion without empathy,” he said.
He cited progress made under the Government’s medical equipment programme, noting that 84 public hospitals have been equipped with mammography machines for breast cancer screening. He, however, said there is a need to ensure optimal utilisation of the equipment through effective referral and follow-up systems.
On cervical cancer, Dr. Oluga said it remains the second most common cancer in Kenya, with many women still seeking treatment at advanced stages. He warned that delayed care increases treatment costs and places pressure on referral facilities, including KNH.
The Principal Secretary called for strengthened national efforts to improve prevention, early detection, and timely treatment, saying improved service delivery across all levels of the health system is key to reducing the cancer burden.
