Health Cabinet Secretary, Debora Mulongo Barasa, has called on all partners and stakeholders to collaborate with her Ministry to achieve 100 percent Universal Health Coverage through the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking after launching a SHIF registration initiative at the Garsen Market in Tana Delta Sub County on Saturday, Dr Barasa at the same time emphasised the need for a whole of government approach and political goodwill for successful SHA implementation across the country.
She sought the support of development and implementing partners to ensure the success of the initiative.
Dr Barasa appealed to political leaders to advocate for the SHA rollout in their counties and constituencies and urged all health workers across the country to provide quality services of international standard.
She also called on private healthcare providers who have not yet contracted their services with the Social Health Authority to do so, while also urging Kenyans to register with and contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Acknowledging that many private facilities had not yet signed contracts with the Health Insurance Authority (SHA), Dr Barasa noted that more than 2,700 had joined the initiative.
She assured healthcare providers that the payments for services rendered in October this year, amounting to Sh1.7 billion, had been released, and clarified that both public and contracted private facilities had started receiving payments.
The CS added that the process of settling outstanding NHIF bills had started, and further said capitation for the primary health care fund was ongoing.
Dr Barasa highlighted that over 15,640,000 Kenyans had registered under SHA but noted that the number of dependents was relatively low, with only about two million registered.
She urged all Kenyans to register with the SHIF to protect themselves and their families, emphasising the financial benefits of health insurance in avoiding financial burdens due to health-related conditions.
“We want to make sure that all Kenyans have 100 percent quality services, access to essential medicines, human resources for health, and a digital platform for a healthy environment and digital ecosystem,” she stated.
She emphasised the need to refine data from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and collaborate with the Ministry of Education to ensure children are included in the Social Health Authority for the country to achieve universal health coverage.
The initiative was supported by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, who said the new health insurance scheme would lift the burden of healthcare from the shoulders of families who have had to conduct fundraisers to pay hospital bills for their relatives.
Tana River Woman Representative Amina Dika and her counterparts from Kiambu (Jane Kagiri), Isiolo (Mumina Golo), Wajir (Fatuma Jeho), and Mandera (Umulkheir Kassim) Counties also pledged to work with the national government for the success of the initiative.
By Emmanuel Masha
