New dawn in healthcare as Gov't officially rolls out SHA

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has officially taken over the space of health financing, with a pledge to standardise access to quality healthcare for all Kenyans.

Leading the official unveiling in Kakamega County on Tuesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa called on Kenyans to take advantage of the one-month registration window in order to enjoy the full benefits under the new model.

Accompanied by a host of leaders including SHA acting CEO Elijah Wachira, CS Barasa heaped praise on the new model which she said will accelerate quality, affordable and timely access to healthcare.

She elaborated the three levels of SHA, including the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, as well as the Primary Healthcare Fund, which she said will level the playing field and ensure equitable access to healthcare.

“Mitandao inasema maneno ambayo sio mazuri, tunawaambia tuna wahakikishia huduma ni za bure kwa Primar Healthcare na za emergency alafu sasa Social Health Insurance ndio sasa utalipia,” she said.

Mr. Wachira on his part noted: “Tunawasihi Wakenya wote ambao wamejipata na information ambayo sio yao waingie kwa portal na watasaidiwa kuhakikisha kuwa details zao ambazo zinafaa ndio ziko pale.”

Leading a similar exercise in Kisumu, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni dismissed allegations of loss of funds for those who had overpaid premiums to the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

“If you had overpaid in NHIF, that money is going to be rolled to SHA…you just need to be assisted then that money will be rolled out to the Social Health Authority,” she said.

The registration process was also officially rolled out across the country. So far, 2.56 million people have been registered under the Social Health Authority.