Kenyans in urgent need of medical care may soon breathe easier, knowing the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will no longer come with a price tag.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced Thursday, April 2, that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is set to launch a nationwide ambulance dispatch and emergency care service by June. Speaking at the onboarding of the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service to the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund at Avenue Hospital, Nairobi, Duale revealed a transformative step in Kenya’s healthcare system.

“By June, any Kenyan can call from anywhere, at any time, in an emergency. The nearest ambulance will be dispatched to your location, whether home, office, or street, and take the patient to the nearest hospital,” Duale said. “The hospital will admit them and perform necessary procedures, including surgery if needed. All costs for the first 24 hours will be covered by SHA. This is the health transformation introduced by this administration.”

Ambulance Access Without Barriers

The new system will see SHA absorb full ambulance costs, ensuring urgent transportation is never a financial burden. Hospitals will admit emergency patients without requiring a deposit, eliminating a key barrier to critical care.

Under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, the first 24 hours of treatment—including surgical procedures and other interventions—will be fully funded. SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi previously noted that ambulance providers would be reimbursed Ksh 4,500 for evacuations within 25 kilometers, with additional Ksh 75 per kilometer for longer distances.

Faster Response, Broader Reach

The initiative promises to cut response times in emergencies and expand access to urgent care nationwide. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reinforced the message, emphasizing public awareness: “Many Kenyans don’t understand that emergency medical treatment is free in Kenya. Whether it’s a car accident or any other life-threatening situation, everyone must know they can go to any hospital in the country and receive free treatment for 24 hours by SHA.”

This bold move aims not just to save lives but to reshape the public’s understanding of emergency healthcare, making timely treatment accessible, equitable, and free of upfront financial burdens.