Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on Garissa residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) in large numbers to avoid being denied access to medical services.
Currently, only 150,468 Kenyans in Garissa have registered with SHA, translating to only 16.7 per cent of the population.
Speaking during a free medical camp event in Garissa where officials had also set SHA registration desks, Duale said that the Universal Healthcare Program is working and urged Kenyans to ignore those opposing the medical cover.
At the same time, the CS defended the SHA partial payment for hospital bills noting that sharing a larger medical cost burden should be a big deal for the patients.
“If you take a mother to deliver at the Garissa Referral Hospital or even in the private hospitals and you have registered with SHA, you will be charged zero shilling and SHA will pay Shs 30,000. If you have subscribed to SHA and you have a patient admitted in ICU, we will be paying Sh28,000 every day. SHA is also paying Sh550,000 for cancer patients per year,” Duale said.
“We have all the practical evidence to show that Universal Healthcare is working. SHA is working, 23.6 million Kenyans have registered and we are seeking to cover 100 per cent of the Kenyan population,” he added.
The CS further cautioned hospitals against lying to patients that the SHA system is not working or the allegation that the internet is down to solicit cash payment in hospitals.
“I know there are some facilities telling patients that the internet or the SHA system is down, so they ask for cash payments. Those people are lying because the internet is paid for by the government, tell them you don’t have money and let them to use or register you for SHA,” he said
During the event, Duale presided over the launch of the Health Facility Digitization program and witnessed the formal digitization of Garissa’s public health facilities under TaifaCare program aimed at expanding access to health protection.
The newly established Health Information Exchange system will make it easier for Kenyans to access their health records from anywhere in the country, capturing both patient and provider data to support continuity of care.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Garissa County government, distributed 1,011 tablets for use in public health facilities across the county under the national digitization programme.
The Tablets are preloaded with specialised health applications linked to TaifaCare platform, which will enable real-time data collection, patient referrals and treatment tracking.
On her part, the SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi reiterated that SHA is meant to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of their location or economic status can access health services without financial hardships.
“Our work in Garissa today reflects our commitment to an equitable health system, and we remain focused on reaching every community,” Dr. Mwangangi said.
Other leaders present in the event included Garissa governor Nathif Jama, MPs Dekow Mohamed (Township), Salah Yakub (Fafi), Sheikh Abdi (Ijara), Umulkheir Harun (nominated), Senator Abdul Haji, MoH Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth and Garissa acting county commissioner Sebastian Okiring.
By Erick Kyalo
