The County Government of Uasin Gishu has adopted a new Public Financial Management (PFM) procedures manual targeting emerging audit issues in Level 4 and 5 health facilities across the county.
The manual was adopted in an interdepartmental meeting aimed at enhancing financial accountability and sustainability in health services.
During a strategic meeting that brought together officials from the County Treasury, Department of Health, Council of Governors, and AMREF Health Africa, review of financial management procedures was also conducted alongside resolution of audit concerns, identification of Training of Trainers (TOTs), and planning for countywide capacity-building sessions.
The training sessions emphasized on health financing autonomy, the County Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) Act, audit findings, and effective revenue management practices.
Participants were equipped with knowledge and tools to enhance financial operations and accountability within the health sector.
Importance of County Facility Improvement Fund
Speaking during the session, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services, Dr. Abraham Serem, highlighted the importance of the County Facility Improvement Fund framework in boosting the efficiency and sustainability of health programs.
“With the implementation of County Facility Improvement Fund, health facilities will have greater autonomy to manage their resources because the funds generated will be directly reinvested into the respective facilities, enabling them to run their programs more effectively and address operational needs promptly,” said Dr. Serem.
His Finance counterpart Micah Rogony shared similar sentiments.
Rogony also stressing the importance of County Facility Improvement Fund as a transformative model for health service delivery.
“County Facility Improvement Fund must work—and it must deliver the best for our people because we are even exploring the need for a ward-level referral hospital to strengthen access to quality health services because this initiative is a great opportunity to deliver tangible improvements at the grassroots level.”
Rogony also emphasized the county’s commitment to increasing budget allocations to the health sector to ensure the successful rollout of County Facility Improvement Fund by underscoring the value of stakeholder engagement, noting that listening to challenges and understanding key support areas is critical for the effective implementation of reforms.
“This stakeholder engagement is not just a formality,we want to know the real issues on the ground and support our teams to overcome them because health is a top priority for Governor Dr Jonathan Bii’s administration, and we are aligning our budgets to reflect that,” he added.
Public financial management in Uasin Gishu health sector
As the County marks a significant step towards accountable, autonomous, and sustainable health service financing, Chief Officers Dr Paul Wangwe (Preventive and Promotive Health)and Eliud Chemaget (Finance) noted that with the training of facility in charges and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, the county hopes to establish a replicable model of public financial management in the health sector.
