OPINION: Why Health CS approach to MPs will help change public attitude on SHA

By Joseph Muiruri,

The call by the Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa Mulongo, on Members of Parliament to join in disseminating the correct information about the Social Health Authority (SHA), could be what is remaining as a tick of approval to win public confidence in a product that the government has struggled to roll out.

The Cabinet Secretary, who appeared before MPs in a joint Speakers’ Kamukunji for both Houses of Parliament, was subjected to a critical test by the Members who basically asked her every possible frequently asked question that has been trending about SHA.

That Mulongo faced the MPs, led by their two Speakers, Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate), and put up a credible explanation of facts, may be just what the project needs to dismantle the headwind mounted by numerous critics who have been trashing it wholesale.

Worthy of note by those who would like to give the healthcare scheme the benefit of doubt, was the fact that the Minister and her senior staff admitted that SHA was facing many teething problems, as would be expected of a project of its massive magnitude.  However, widespread misinformation has pushed the public to have doubts and shun registration.

The take-off of SHA, according to the CS,  has admittedly hit turbulence that was unexpected, but none that will not be overcome. If the public can be convinced to register willingly, most of the other glitches will be smoothed out.

National Assembly Speaker Wetangula saw the point the Minister was making and urged the members: “We believe that as leaders, you can use your offices which are paid for by us as PSC to support the process of registration of wananchi who probably have not been told well whether the registration process costs money or not. This is not an AI generated programme, a computer will give you what you feed it, if you don’t register you are not captured and  therefore you don’t get the service, we need to work together to help Kenyans access this medicare rolled out by the government.”

His Senate counterpart, Kingi, echoed his sentiments saying there was inadequate sensitisation of the public, giving social media critics space to mislead members of the public.

Kingi noted: “There is something lacking that the public are yet to understand and, as leaders, we have the Herculean task of addressing this. When you see the public refusing to register, claiming they are being asked to pay a certain amount of money and yet registration is free, it means we have some work to do as their informed representatives.”

Just to prove that despite bad publicity and the barrage of social media war, SHA is making steady progress, the CS said 9.8 million Kenyans had migrated to the new health scheme, attributing the main challenge to many patients seeking treatment before registering first.

Dr. Mulongo explained to MPs as they asked her multiple questions: “Many of those seeking medical services try last minute registration, some lack required documentations or have not registered their dependants.

She pleaded with MPs to use their vantage positions to help debunk fake information that has sunk deep, like the claim that Sh.200,000 was required before treatment can be authorised which, she noted, was a lie as registration is free.

The CS gave a breakdown of the status of implementation of Universal Health Care, progress of SHA registration, benefits, package and applicable tariffs which, she said, make the health scheme stand on solid ground when it is fully operational.

If the Minister’s assurance is the test of SHA’s take-off, then Kenyans should feel confident to allow for time for this programme to settle: “I came when the plane was just leaving the runway and as we ascended, we faced a little bit of turbulence and thick clouds but we are happy to report that now we are above and steering. We are confident that we will reach our destiny of vision 2030 having attained affordable, accessible quality healthcare for all Kenyans,” said the CS.

Given the confidence exuded of the Health ministry team before MPs, SHA should show results.        

The writer is a media consultant who comments on public affairs