Excelsior Group’s Foundation and the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) have reached an agreement to improve healthcare accessibility for 30 percent of Kenya’s population.

Private sector networks account for more than 50 percent of Kenya’s healthcare providers serving the needs of Kenyans living on lower incomes.

Through this new initiative, Excelsior Group has agreed to support KAPH’s dialogue with the business community and strategic partners, to address such issues as regulation enabling, affordable treatment, shortage of skilled professionals and improving access to capital.

“By supporting KAPH, we seek to stem the vicious poverty cycle and continue our work to transform healthcare in Kenya by building leadership amongst the private healthcare sector,” said Dr. Felix Olale, Chairman of Excelsior Group and CEO of Wellness Group.

“Our Foundation’s focus is to develop and invest in human capital,” Dr. Olale added.

50 percent of Kenyans pay for healthcare out of pocket, according to the IFC.  When individuals earning a dollar a day or less become ill, their first action will be to wait to see if there’s a recovery, then attempt to find payment for treatment by divesting of their assets or seeking a loan.

This frequently leads them to sink into destitution, justifying the assumption that ill health perpetuates poverty and depletes income levels.

Under the MOU, Excelsior Foundation has agreed to set up a secretariat, help with its administration and support KAPH in its sustainability strategy.

KAPH’s facilities are located across most of the counties in Kenya including Nairobi, Naivasha, Meru,  Mombasa, Kijabe, Nanyuki, Kisumu, Kisii, Thika, Eldoret, Embu, and Athi River.