Kenya's private sector is one of the most developed and dynamic in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the health sector - where the leading causes of death are HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infection, diarrheal diseases, and malaria - the private commercial (for-profit) sector and the not-for-profit sector play critical roles in preventing and treating disease. Even among the poor, the private sector is an important source of care. For example, 47 percent of the poorest quintile of Kenyans use a private fa...

Kenya's private sector is one of the most developed and dynamic in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the health sector - where the leading causes of death are HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infection, diarrheal diseases, and malaria - the private commercial (for-profit) sector and the not-for-profit sector play critical roles in preventing and treating disease. Even among the poor, the private sector is an important source of care. For example, 47 percent of the poorest quintile of Kenyans use a private fa...

This paper broadly examines the health sector in Kenya, by synthesizing an assessment of the health sector with an analysis of the market. After considering the legal and regulatory framework, the policy enforcement, the human resource capacity, and the financing of health systems, the paper makes recommendations for policy makers.