The health sector in Kenya has been undergoing a transition that has become quite hectic for most Kenyans to adopt. This transition is marked by the Government’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Authority (SHA) sometimes referred to as Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
This new system was set by President William Ruto, to reform and replace NHIF to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensure that all Kenyans access quality healthcare services at an affordable cost. Kenyans are facing difficulties and hardships in its adoption and its functionality, since its introduction causing tons of issues across the country. Under the SHA system, three funds are managed that is; the Primary Healthcare fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
In the shift, Kenyans are now expected to cope with the lengthened and arduous transition bearing the faults in the system. These problems are rising from debts from the previous NHIF system, difficulty in absorption of patients, health staff, and health facilities into the new system. The health facilities that have not been absorbed are now forced to work on their own finances bearing the cost to patients who are being forced to engage in out-of-pocket payments to reach their health needs.
The labour input has also been affected severely as absorption of the staff from NHIF to SHA has also seemed to raise issues of their qualifications into this new system which requires them to be tested again to be absorbed into the system slowing down the absorption of intern doctors.
To bridge the gaps, the Government through the acting CEO of SHA Robert Ingarisa, in a released report more hospitals are set to be added to the SHA coverage. President William Ruto during his Nation Address promised to disburse Ksh. 3.7 billion towards the payment and reduction of debts owed by the government in the last decade to health facilities.
The Ksh 3.7 billion dividends will trace down to 1.25 billion for pending NHIF debts, 1.1 billion shillings for the Linda Mama program, and 1.25 billion shillings for the primary health care program. However, health practitioners in the health sector have raised complaints regarding the government's promises, stating that it is taking longer and a lot of difficulties are being faced in the acquisition of these funds. This has continued to raise panic among patients, only making access to health care.
The Government has since been building on its efficiency in the SHA system and according to their data, their progress in implementation has been marked by, 15.3 million Kenyans being registered, among which 5.4 million have been transitioned from NHIF to SHA. 7,800 healthcare facilities are being served under SHA with 46,911 healthcare workers being absorbed.
As the government keeps on building efficiency by locking in the gaps Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Deputy Director Janet Anyango, has called for the government to prioritize clear guidelines and communication strategies to ensure seamless access to healthcare for citizens.
Access to quality health care is a right for all Kenyans and efficiency in access to this should highly be upheld to better the health of Kenyans and build a community that is comfortably thriving in the fight against diseases.
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