Border residents between Kenya and Uganda seek medical treatment on either side.
However, several challenges emerge despite the proximity of hospitals in Busia Kenya and Tororo Uganda.
Challenges like failure by Ugandan hospitals to recognize the Kenyan NHIF card have been cited.
Residents of the two countries say there is need by EAC member states to come up with a common insurance cover that can be used in either Kenya or Uganda.
However, on Monday, the two countries entered into a cross border health integrated partnership (CB-HIPP).
It’s funded by United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID).
The meeting was co-chaired by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong and County Commissioner Jacob Narengo.
USAID was led by Chief of Party CB-HIPP Dr Dorothy Muroki with the health technical team led by Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation Dr Isaac Omeri.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Dr Muroki said the partnership between Busia County and neighboring district of Tororo, Namaingo and Busia Districts in Uganda needs a robust coordination and collaboration model.
She said the two health systems in Busia Kenya and Uganda are able to work together because it’s one ecosystem that support the provision of health services across the two borders.
“We are deepening this interaction so that there can be more coordination and a bilateral arrangement that ensures Kenyans and Ugandans seeking health services are able to be supported within a policy framework; this is one key step in that direction,” she said.
Dr Muroki said a strong cross border health system is important for diseases surveillance, adding that it’s aimed at coming up with a strong cross border health system that is vital for disease surveillance.
The Governor said his government will support the cross border health initiative, adding that he is ready for the forthcoming stakeholders’ forum in Tororo Uganda that will draw participants from the County and National Government, and Uganda.
Dr Omeri said the partnership will help establish the number of Ugandans seeking treatment in Kenya to enable the County Government present a compressive report to East African Community, and if there is need for compensation.