The health equity and financialprotection reports are short country-specific volumes thatprovide a picture of equity and financial protection in thehealth sectors of low-and middle-income countries. Topicscovered include: inequalities in health outcomes, healthbehavior and health care utilization; benefit incidenceanalysis; financial protection; and the progressivity ofhealth care financing. Kenya's government is committedto improving equity and financial protection in health byimplementing the Second National Health Sector StrategicPlan (NHSSP II). Kenya spends 4.3 per cent (2009) of itsgross domestic product (GDP) on health. This is lower thanthe average spending levels in other lower income countriesin Africa, which spent an average of 6.5 per cent (2009) oftheir GDP on health. The functions of the health system inKenya have historically been centralized through top-downdecision-making and resource allocations. However, in thepast decade Kenya has committed to decentralization ofcertain core functions to the district level. These includemanaging the health management system, making resourceallocation decisions, and delivering health services. Thecentral government maintains control over the majority ofthe key functions of the health system including staffing,contracting, and maintaining the national health informationsystem. Kenya has a form of social insurance through the 40year-old National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). Employeesin the formal sector are compulsorily insured and must makemonthly contributions from their wages.
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