Kajiado County residents have been urged to register for the new Social Health Authority (SHA) even as the October 1st deadline approaches.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Alex Kilowua noted that SHA would be replacing the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and for residents to continue accessing health services, they must enroll themselves.
“All health services which were being offered through NHIF will now be offered under SHA and I want to urge all residents to register themselves so as to continue accessing the services,” said Kilowua.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, over 1.2 million Kenyans have so far voluntarily registered for the Social Health Authority programme.
Dr. Barasa called on more Kenyans to register so that they could seamlessly transition from NHIF and enjoy the enhanced services without any interruption of services.
She noted that SHA aims to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services to all Kenyans and transitioning NHIF to SHA is part of government efforts to roll out universal health coverage (UHC).
The registration exercise is done through self-registration USSD code *147# and through the website http://sha.go.ke and with the assistance of Community Health Promoters or by visiting NHIF offices and other designated registration points.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is mandated to manage three funds that will replace NHIF.
These are the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIL).
Each fund will serve a specific purpose and will be available to all Kenyans who register with SHA.
SHIF will cover costs for medical services Kenyans seek from medical facilities graded Levels 4 to 6.
The fund will cover outpatient, inpatient, and maternity services. Neonatal and Child health services will also be paid for using this fund.
Renal care treatment, hematology & oncology services, and mental wellness services will also be covered under SHIF. Surgeries, dental treatments, and imaging services such as X-rays will also be covered using this fund.
Notably, overseas treatment is also listed as one of the benefits of this fund.
The Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF) will pay for services Kenyans seek from Level 1 to 3 health facilities.
The fund will cover outpatient, inpatient, and maternity services. Optical and end-of-life services sought in health facilities (Level 1-3) will also be catered for by this fund.
Screening and management of pre-cancerous lesions services will also be purchased using the PHF fund. The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund will cover emergency and chronic illness costs.
The services that will be covered using this fund include emergency and evacuation services which involves patients being taken to hospital with ambulances from their homes or scenes of accidents.
Stabilization and resuscitation services offered to patients will be covered under the fund while patients admitted to the Critical care (ICU and HDU) will also have their treatment paid for using this fund.
By Rop Janet
