A NATIONAL DIAGNOSTICS POLICY AND PLAN TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SYSTEMS IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE IN KENYA: A POLICY ANALYSIS BRIEF

Post- The lack of access to diagnostics is compounded by a lack of pandemic, some of the greatest improvements in the availability trained staff, insufficient resources, and a lack of a national and utilisation of diagnostic services at health facility and diagnostic policy or strategic plan to deliver comprehensive and community levels in sub-Saharan Africa have been seen for integrated quality h. [...] This policy review and analysis conducted by AFIDEP, JKUAT, and FIND revealed no overall policies to guide the availability In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), diagnostic tests and utilisation of diagnostic services in Kenya. [...] inaccurate procedures, inadequate quality assurance protocols, and a lack of national diagnostic policy or strategic plan to The analysis involved the synthesis of policies, guidelines, deliver comprehensive and integrated quality diagnostic strategies, and legislation on health and development within the services5. [...] The new policy should systematically that include availability and utilisation of diagnostic services at outline the key structure and system to implement diagnostic various tiers of health facility and community levels. [...] Most importantly, can be a learning platform for the ‘to be developed’ national there is a need for a monitoring system at both the individual diagnostic policy and strategic plan that could provide a and community levels to ensure that diagnostic services are framework for all-round delivery of quality and accessible available and utilised by all in all healthcare systems.