Edwine Barasa

Professor Edwine Barasa serves as the Interim Executive Director of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and heads the Programme's Health Economics Research Unit (HERU). He holds a professorship in Health Economics at the University of Oxford, bringing extensive expertise in health systems research and policy analysis across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Education

• PhD in Health Economics, University of Cape Town
• Master's degree in Health Economics, University of Cape Town
• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, University of Nairobi

Research Focus

Professor Barasa's work centers on health financing, equity and efficiency analysis, economic evaluation of healthcare interventions, and health system governance. His research addresses practical challenges in implementing health policies in resource-constrained settings across Africa. Through his extensive publication record, he has made significant contributions to understanding health insurance systems (particularly Kenya's NHIF), health technology assessment, and health system coordination.

His recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on generating evidence to inform health policy decisions in African contexts, with particular attention to county-level health systems, budget execution processes, and pandemic response economics.

Policy Engagement

• Advisor to Kenya Ministry of Health (NHIF reform taskforce, Health Benefits Advisory Panel)
• Technical advisor to World Bank and WHO on health financing across Sub-Saharan Africa
• Member of Africa CDC's Health Economic Unit advisory board
• Member of Africa Universal Health Coverage Commission

Research Leadership

As head of HERU, Professor Barasa leads a team focused on generating evidence for health financing policy in Africa. His work bridges academic research with practical policy implementation, ensuring evidence informs health system strengthening efforts across multiple African countries including Kenya, Ghana, Somalia, Malawi, Madagascar, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Egypt.