Kenya has taken a significant step towards strengthening emergency healthcare following the launch of the Social Health Authority (SHA) National Emergency Dispatch Centre by President William Ruto. The new facility is designed to provide a coordinated, nationwide response to medical emergencies, ensuring that Kenyans receive lifesaving assistance faster, regardless of where they are.

Speaking during the launch, the President emphasized that from today, whenever a Kenyan faces a medical emergency, the first question will never be whether they can pay. The first duty will be to save life. This underscores the government's commitment to ensuring that emergency medical care is available when it is needed most.

A key highlight of the initiative is the toll-free emergency number, 922. Kenyans can dial 922 from any mobile network at no cost, and the service will be accessible even without airtime, making emergency assistance available to everyone.

The government also announced that ambulance evacuation and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be covered by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund at approved tariffs. This protection applies to all Kenyans.

To support the rollout, 1,243 ambulance and emergency service providers have already been contracted by SHA, laying the foundation for a coordinated national emergency medical service capable of delivering faster, more reliable emergency care across the country.

The launch of the SHA National Emergency Dispatch Centre marks a major milestone in advancing Universal Health, and building a more responsive, inclusive and resilient healthcare system for every Kenyan.