The government has issued clarity on how the Social Health Authority (SHA) will operate with a subtle warning to Kenyans who are yet to move to the new insurance scheme.
Public Health Mary Muthoni Principal Secretary said on Tuesday, October 1, that Kenyans would have to register for SHA to get medical care in a majority of health facilities in the country.
While speaking to the press after presiding over the training of Community Health Promoters (CPHs) at Kuoyo dispensary in Kisumu East, the PS clarified that the first charge when you visit any health facility will be on social health insurance.
This, according to PS Muthoni, would also apply to Kenyans enrolled for private insurance services.
A collage of the NHIF offices and the Social Health Authority logo. PHOTO/ Business Daily
“The first point of charge when you go to any health facility is going to be SHA,” she said.
” When you take any other cover, don’t think you’ll be refunded your money…..the other cover can only come in to take care of what is excess.”
The PS also sought to quell concerns about the potential loss of funds of Kenyans who overpaid under the old NHIF scheme.
She went on, “No money is going to be lost. if you had overpaid. If you had overpaid under NHIF, that money will be rolled over into SHIF. Let the fears of moving into the new year not affect you. Your money is safe. You simply need to get assisted and your money will be rolled into SHIF.”
The PS further said that, unlike the old NHIF system, one would not need a card to access medical services under the new SHA system.
PS Muthoni’s latest comments were contradictory to what Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said on Tuesday during SHA’s official launch.
Barasa was adamant no Kenyan should be denied services during the transition from NHIF to SHA.
“No hospital or health facility will deny you service during this transition. We have already communicated that services must continue uninterrupted ahead of the implementation of this progressive scheme,” Barasa said.
With the official rollout of the new insurance system underway, a large number of Kenyans are still apprehensive about the SHA, despite the government’s repeated assurances.
By Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa confirmed that at least 2.16 million Kenyans had already registered with SHA – a number that is a far cry from the government’s target numbers.
The Social Health Insurance Fund is divided into three categories; Primary Healthcare Fund, the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illnesses Fund, and the Social Health Insurance Fund.
A photo of the NHIF building in Nairobi. PHOTO/NHIF.
