Social Health Insurance implementation to roll despite hurdles

The Government is ready to roll out the Social Health Insurance (SHA) from October 1, 2024 despite the challenges especially on numbers and the pending court case.

According to the Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, Harry Kimutai, the outcome of the case may alter implementation but they will be banking on a window that allowed government to go back to parliament in the event the Friday outcome does not go their way.

The roll out is expected in the next 12 days and so far only 1.2 million Kenyans have registered.

“In the system we have a registration module which is ready that is why we have the 1.2 million people registered, the other module is health information exchanged which will enable us have the data base of the clients,” says Kimtai.

On claims management, Kimtai  says they will use e-management claims system to ensure no fraud are recorded insisting that they are banking on digitization.

Council of Governors Health Committee chairperson and Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki says the use of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) is not enough in registering over 44 million Kenyans who are yet to join SHA bracket.

He asks the government to come up with innovative ways that will drive a call to action.

“We need to be deliberate out there and say we are going to have the ministry having a drive to register SHA, I have to go the village and call them today I am giving relief food and when they come, I ask them to register for SHA, our people are very difficult. Goodies can’t be sweets the ministry understand that” noted Njuki.

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa wants Kenyans to focus their energies into registering for SHA arguing it would be the way out of health problems that have led to numerous harambees.

Daniel Mwai, the president’s advisor on health financing says the implementation of SHA would greatly reduce dependence on WhatsApp financing which has led to Kenyans being in different WhatsApp groups at a time.