Nyeri County Commissioner (CC) Ronald Mwiwawi, has asked Nyeri residents to seek the correct information regarding Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to enable them enjoy the benefits of the new medical scheme.
Speaking during the 6th National Government Development-Nyeri County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) meeting, the county administrator said that a lot of Kenyans lack proper information on how the new medical scheme is expected to work.
According to the CC, the general lack of information on what SHIF and SHA is as well as the miscommunication on where one is expected to seek medical care has resulted in the bumpy transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund to SHA.
“The communication has not been unbundled well for all of us to understand. Many people are not getting the information as it should. SHA is working at Level II and Level III facilities which are the primary healthcare level where all of us are supposed to start. I am encouraging each of us to take time to understand how SHA is working,” said the CC.
In October this year the Ministry of Health rolled out SHA, a health insurance cover targeting to broaden access to Universal Health Coverage for Kenyans. Under the new cover, the Health Ministry is targeting to register over 50 million Kenyans in a medical scheme that will address the inefficiency and lack of inclusivity that had characterized the 60-year-old NHIF cover.
Under the scheme, employed individuals are expected to contribute 2.75 per cent of their monthly income to SHA. For individuals without a constant or fixed monthly income, their contribution was to be calculated using a means-testing tool which would rely on the individual’s assets and the earnings.
Once registered members can access a wide array of primary health care services, emergency as well as treatment for chronic health conditions. However, confusion has been rife among some of the Kenyans who have been forced to pay for medical services despite being enlisted under SHA. In other instances, locals have confessed to having no information about the cover and the right process they are expected to follow to enjoy the benefits under the scheme.
“The mistake people are making is they are going directly to Level IV and Level V before passing through Level II and III and that is where we are getting complications. When you get to a Level IV or Level V without a referral from Level II and III you will not get attended to and you will claim that SHA is not working,” stated Mwiwawi.
As of November 19, Nyeri County had registered 21.1 per cent of its population under SHA. According to data from the Health Ministry, out of a target population 759,164, a total of 160,162 had been enlisted under the cover.
While addressing the Heads of Departments of Ministries, State Departments and Government Agencies working in Nyeri, Mwiwawi said that that county had similarly accredited 105 out of 130 government health facilities and the National government is working closely with the Nyeri County Department of Health Services to bring on board faith based and private health facilities.
“We are doing well in terms of accreditation; we only have a challenge with the faith based and private facilities. Because of their own fear, they are not accepting accreditation to SHA but we have agreed with the County Executive in charge of health to sensitize them and help them understand what is happening,” stated the County Commissioner.
By Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
