Last Change:
02/28/2025
Health Act
Year: 2017
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Health
Description
The Health Act, 2017 aims to establish a national health system integrating public and private institutions at both national and county levels, ensuring equitable access to the highest attainable standard of health services. It safeguards health rights, including emergency medical treatment and reproductive health care, while upholding the rights of children to basic nutrition and health care. The Act also addresses the needs of vulnerable groups as defined in Article 21 of the Constitution and distinguishes the roles of health regulatory bodies from the policy-making functions of the national government, promoting efficient governance in health services.
Selected provisions
(1) Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health which
shall include progressive access for provision of promotive, preventive, curative,
palliative and rehabilitative services
The national government shall establish and maintain a national referral health facility to provide specialized health services.
(2)(e) mentions the establishment of mechanisms for health financing to ensure equitable access to health services.
Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which shall include progressive access for the provision of promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services.
A county government shall be responsible for—
(a) county health facilities and pharmacies;
(b) ambulance services;
(c) promotion of primary health care;
(d) licensing and control of undertakings that sell food to the public;
(e) veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession);
(f) cemeteries, funeral parlours and crematoria; and
(g) refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal.
Every child has the right to basic nutrition and health care services.