Gov't to begin SHA's overseas healthcare cover on April 14

SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi confirmed the rollout while speaking to Citizen TV, noting that the authority had already published a list of 36 medical conditions eligible for treatment abroad, where specialised care is not available locally.

“We’re very pleased to inform Kenyans that starting on the 14th of April, we will now be able to have Kenyans come to SHA and access the overseas package. We’ve heard you, there’s been a lot of hue and cry about it and we’ve finally been able to meet the merits of the law and do the contracting process,” she said.

Dr. Mwangangi explained that the listed procedures were reviewed by the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel, chaired by Prof. Walter Jaoko, and approved as conditions requiring treatment unavailable within the country.

She cautioned that beneficiaries must strictly follow the referral process, warning that treatment sought in non-empanelled facilities would not be covered.

“Those who have been contracted have elected local providers e.g. Apollo—hypothetically could have allocated MPSHAH as a follow-up facility. It means that when you come back from India, we expect MPSHAH will alert us that you have come back and up to two weeks post follow-up we close your file and make payment,” she said.

The SHA has empanelled nine overseas medical facilities across India, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

In Turkey, the facilities include Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Atakent Hospital, Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, and Acıbadem Adana Hospital.

In India, KIMS Hospital Enterprises Private Ltd and Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd (Apollo Cancer Centre) have been accredited.

In Saudi Arabia, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital and King Faisal Specialist Hospital are among the approved providers.

SHA also said it is working to verify a Ksh.200 million debt owed to overseas medical facilities by the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which will be settled after the verification process is complete.