The Government is committed to the improvement of access and equity to essential health care services and to ensure that the health sector plays its role in the realization of the Kenya Vision 2030. As a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals, Kenya has expressed its commitment to the achievement of these goals. Other guiding policy documents to the health sector in the delivery of health services include the Second Medium Term Plan (2013-2017) of Vision 2030, Kenya Health Policy 2013-2030, and the Kenya National Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (2013-2017).
The need to have efficient delivery of health care services at the different levels in terms of rational use of health care services and equitable services to the rural and the poor populations cannot be over-emphasized. Due to inadequate knowledge on the organisation of services and the perceived low quality of services offered at lower levels, clients often by-pass available services at those lower levels where services could be provided more cost- effectively.
In order to provide health services equitably and cost-effectively, there is need to strengthen the referral system. The Kenya Health Sector Referral Strategy has been developed in response to this need. The process of developing the strategy was consultative and participatory under the stewardship of a Referral System Technical Working Group. The process also involved desk review of relevant documents, situation assessment of the referral system, development of goals, objectives, priorities and implementation framework for the strategy.