Public participation on Social Health Insurance Fund set to begin on Friday

Physical public participation over the proposed Social Health Insurance Fund are set to begin by the end of this week.

While the Ministry of Health kicked off online public participation on Monday, members of the public will starting Friday get a chance to interact with the proposed Social Health Insurance regulations that are aimed at operationalising the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.

The Act brings to life three funds that will cater for the health care needs of the public, registered as members of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

The primary healthcare fund will offer services at the dispensaries and health centres across the country, with members being able to access both outpatient and inpatient services in the areas of preventive, curative, rehabilitative, palliative and referral services.

This will include consultation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases including ear, oral, eye, mental and behavioural conditions as well as screening for diseases and last expense services that include preparation of bodies in mortuaries.

The Social Healthcare Insurance Fund on the other hand will cater for health services offered on referral from the lower health facilities.

The health facilities from level I to level VI will accord members services like surgical procedures, including transplants and implants, screening of non-communicable diseases, palliative and critical care,

It will also cover Cancer management including radiotherapy costs of up to 25 sessions, and chemotherapy costs of up to 10 sessions. Kidney patients will also access 3 dialysis sessions per week for a period of one year.

"Those members who find themselves facing health emergencies or suffering from chronic illnesses will benefit from coverage under the emergency chronic and critical illness fund that will amongst other things provide treatment of diseases like type 2 diabetes, end stage kidney disease which will see patients receive 3 dialysis sessions per week for one year as well as cardiac and pulmonary conditions, trauma and shock," Health Cabinet Secretary Wafula Nakhumicha said.

"They will also be qualified to use ambulance services in cases of emergencies. The funds also provide for treatment outside Kenya in case the treatment needed isn't available in the country."