Nobody should be denied dialysis, maternity services - SHA CEO Wachira says amid uproar

This is after members of the public took to social media on Monday raising the potential risks the transition poses minutes before SHIF's registration deadline set for September 30.

Prominent entertainer DJ Krowbar posted a video saying that his wife received a call from her dialysis center asking her to pay using cash in her subsequent sessions as of October 1, 2024, stating that the transition will severely affect many patients suffering kidney failure.

"Thousands of Kenyans who have chronic kidney failure depend on NHIF to pay for their dialysis. It is really expensive about Ksh.9,500 per session. My wife does two a week and some people do three. If an intervention is not done this is going to end up really bad," he said.

Amid heaping similar sentiments, Wachira told all contracted hospitals to continue to providing dialysis and cancer services to patients.

He further ordered that maternity services in KEPH (essential health package) level 2 and 3 facilities should be administered. Level 2 facilities include Dispensaries and Clinics while Level 3 includes Health Centres and Maternity Homes and Sub District Hospitals.

Active Managed schemes have also been directed to remain active.

The transition has been met with heavy contention from Kenyans as the government has been at pains to explain how patients will access healthcare services and how a high monthly deduction will be made to the new health fund.

Despite a hazy scrutiny process, Parliament's Health Committee cleared the scheme on Monday, stating that its queries regarding the multi-billion health digitization project have been addressed.

The committee made this declaration after Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa provided a blurry status update just hours before the October 1 rollout of SHA. 

MPs raised concerns regarding the means testing instrument, questioning the accuracy and criteria employed to establish the contributions expected from informal sector households. 

The Ministry explained that it conducted a pilot program in eight counties, studying a sample of 2,000 individuals to determine how those in the informal sector will contribute 2.75 percent of their annual income. 

CS Barasa, after a lengthy scattered defence, said that they will be paying in bands to pay different amounts in each category.

"We will give you the report for the bands but what I can assure you is that the accuracy is 95%," she said after failing to elucidate how the banding will work.

Questions still remain unanswered about the criteria that will be used to assess how informal sector households will be banded to determine their annual contributions to the health fund.

Meanwhile, ministry officials have reassured that employees from the defunct NHIF are being integrated into the new structure.

The Ministry has also initiated the distribution of medical supplies to counties in preparation for the SHA rollout on Tuesday.