SHA transition: Former NHIF staff to know their fate in 6 months

Former employees of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will know their fate with the Social Health Authority in six months.

SHA’s Acting CEO Robert Ingasira said the employees whose engagement with NHIF ended last week will work with SHA for the next six months as the authority gets it’s house in order.

The clarification came amidst growing discontent among some of the affected staff who say their interests should be protected even as the transition to SHA moves to the next phase.

Last Friday marked the last day of the existence of the over 50-year-old NHIF, with the new kid on the block SHA inheriting all it’s function, leaving the defunct outfit’s 1,700 permanent and pensionable employees in abeyance.

“The expectation is that within six months, SHA will have conducted the suitability test and some of them will be maintaine…it shall have determined the number and qualifications, the balance will be taken to PSC,” said Mr. Ingasira.

According to the transition clauses, the staff of NHIF were accorded three options in the transition; to apply for SHA jobs, to be deployed to other government entities through the Public Service Commission (PSC), and early voluntary retirement.

Mr. Ingasira added: “Those insisting on retirement will be given that option, retirement is voluntary, and will be subjected to other regulations, it is at that stage that those willing to exercise that option will be able to.”

The authority has in the past stated that it has an initial staff establishment of 500 employees approved by the PSC and is set to advertise these jobs before the end of the year.

But while SHA grapples with the human resource aspect of its operations, it says the roll out of health services under Universal Health Coverage is now stabilizing.

While acknowledging initial challenges, SHA now says it has moved to clear some of the claims it owes to facilities, public, private and faith based ones.

“This week the authority has disbursed Ksh.3.75 billion for NHIF pending claims, Linda Mama and SHA capitation,” added the Acting SHA boss.

At the same time, patients seeking primary health care services will be able to access them at select level four facilities in addition to those at level 2 and three as the authority seeks to make these services accessible to the public.

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