The Government is sealing all loopholes to ensure that public monies under the Social Hospital Insurance Fund (SHIF) programme are utilized prudently to provide quality healthcare to Kenyans.
Nakuru County Commissioner (CC) Lyford Kibaara said SHIF will adopt advanced technology to curb wastage and corruption, adding that the government was keen on ensuring that no Kenyan was left behind as the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) gets underway.
Under the programme, Kibaara explained that low-income earners will contribute as low as Sh300 a month, adding that the new strategy will ensure that no Kenyan is driven into poverty because of high medical bills.
“The new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will significantly lower the cost of health care for poor households in the country,” he said.
The CC made the remarks when he inaugurated the Nakuru County Steering Committee’s first strategy meeting for the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) held at the Nakuru Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The committee will constitute the leadership of the Social Health Insurance Authority (SHIA), the County Health Management Team (CHMT), the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) overseeing the 11 Sub counties, the 11 Sub- County Health Services Team and the 11-sub county Community Health Strategy Focal Persons, with the steering committee being co-chaired by County Executive Committee Member for Health Services.
Kibaara stated that a raft of regulations that were governing SHIF were addressing the limitations observed in the now defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) by prioritizing equitable access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health care for all.
He explained that besides addressing basic health services, SHIF encompasses a wide range of healthcare services, ensuring that Kenyans have access to quality healthcare across various medical needs.
The Executive for health, Roselyn Mungai stated that the three new funds namely the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, were strategically designed to cover various levels of healthcare services, from primary to emergency and chronic care, ensuring that no Kenyan is denied emergency medical treatment, as enshrined in Article 43(2) of the Constitution.
Mungai observed that the inclusion of services such as screening, drug rehabilitation, mental health support, physiotherapy, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, X-rays, brachytherapy, outpatient and inpatient services, HIV testing, cancer screening, family planning, maternal and child clinics, surgeries, emergencies, including ambulance services, cardiac arrest, accidents, and even transplant procedures, demonstrated the government’s commitment to providing holistic healthcare coverage.
“The Constitution guarantees good health to every Kenyan, but most citizens have been financially drained by these ailments. High costs of treating serious medical conditions such as hypertension, cancer and diabetes necessitated development of the Fund,” she noted.
The county executive said SHIF will have positive implications for the workforce and productivity as a healthier population will translate into more productive workers and entrepreneurs, thus contributing to the country’s economic growth.
“By addressing health issues proactively, the initiative aims to reduce absenteeism and improve overall workforce efficiency. With a substantial portion of the population covered by the Fund, there is a likelihood of decreased pressure on government-funded healthcare facilities. This could result in shorter waiting times, improved service delivery, and better overall experiences for patients seeking care in public hospitals,” added Mungai.
NHIF had a total of 15.4 million members. Out of this, only 6.7 million were active members. In the 2021/2022 financial year, NHIF collected a total of Sh61.53 billion from its members.
The 57-year-old NHIF was disbanded and replaced by the Social Health Authority thanks to the Social Health Insurance Bill of 2023.
Under the new SHIF, health benefits will be accessed in all facilities accredited by SHA, and licensed by the medical council.
The government has since commenced implementation the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, Primary Health Care Act, 2023 and Digital Health Act, 2023.
The three laws repealed the problematic NHIF and established three new funds: The Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
By Esther Mwangi
