Maraga condemns gov’t as private hospitals threaten healthcare suspension over SHA arrears

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has expressed concerns over the recent threat by the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) to suspend Social Health Authority (SHA) healthcare services nationwide due to the government's failure to remit owed funds.

This follows RUPHA chairperson Dr Brian Lishenga’s statement on Thursday, highlighting ignored challenges in the new healthcare system, including 54% of hospitals not receiving payments, 89% reporting SHA portal failures and 83% facing issues verifying patient eligibility, all putting patients’ lives at risk.

In a statement on X on Friday, Maraga condemned SHA, and in extension the Kenya Kwanza government, for not fulfilling its financial obligations to hospitals, saying that the delay in payments to healthcare providers was unacceptable.

“I am deeply concerned at the news that the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association intends to suspend healthcare services to Kenyans due to the failure of government to remit funds for their services,” he said.

“The failure to remit refunds is unacceptable as the government-run Social Health Authority is responsible for these payments, and Kenyans have been paying into SHA (and before that into NHIF). It is wrong and morally unacceptable to subject Kenyans to suffering when they need hospital services and medicines.”

Further, Maraga warned that the repercussions of RUPHA’s suspension of services could be dire, as many patients require urgent medical attention that cannot be delayed.

“I imagine that some of these cases need urgent medical attention and cannot wait. Lives are at stake. Our Constitution guarantees Kenyans the right to the highest attainable standard of health,” Maraga said.

He likewise criticized the ruling government's failure to implement effective healthcare policies, which he said has been compounded by corruption and poor management.

“The government must seriously address the crumbling of healthcare institutions. For far too long, providing access to healthcare services has been chocked by poor policies and corrupt practices in government,” said Maraga.  

“We cannot be a people who make two steps forward and five steps backward because a few people have found a way to game the industry and enrich themselves. A country with a sick population cannot advance. We must ensure the best healthcare institutions if we are to realize the aspirations on universal healthcare in our constitution.”