Health PS Issued With 7-Day Ultimatum After Public Uproar

The Commission on Administrative Justice on Saturday demanded the Health Principal Secretary in charge of Public Health and Professional Standards Marry Muthoni resolves the health crisis currently being witnessed in the country.

The Office of the Ombudsman handed the PS seven days to find a solution to the problem stemming from the government’s decision to transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA). 

According to the Ombudsman, several health facilities across the country reportedly turned away patients who were not registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) including those seeking cancer treatment and dialysis.

“The Commission takes cognisance of reports on various media platforms highlighting the plight of Kenyans who are being denied essential health care services, owing to the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF),” read part of the letter.

A hospital ward in Kenya.

Photo

Kenyans.co.ke/Murang’a GH

The human rights and justice watchdog further faulted the PS for contravening her previous promise where she pledged to ensure the seamless and continuous provision of healthcare services across the country.

Meanwhile, in the demand note, the Office of the Ombudsman called on the Health PS to publish the list of members registered under the new health scheme as of September 30 to ascertain the people at risk of being denied health care services.

The commission also urged the PS to outline the initiatives employed to ensure that citizens were directed on how to access services during the transition period. 

“Bearing in mind that some members under the NHIF Scheme paid lumpsum contributions to NHIF that run past October 2024 into the year 2025, provide a copy of the Refund policy and the general communication to the affected members,” the PS was told.

The Ombudsman’s directive comes a day after the Ministry of Health reiterated that the transition of existing NHIF members to  SHA was legal as stipulated in Legal Notice 147 of 2024. The Ministry also told Kenyans to update and verify their details to access seamless services.

While addressing the press in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa insisted that no facility should deny patients services as the nationwide rollout of the SHA kickstarts

“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.

Meanwhile, Health PS Harry Kimtai while responding to concerns about the sudden mass migration of Kenyans from NHIF to SHA, clarified that the shift was done in accordance with the law. 

Inside an ICU ward at a hospital in Kisii County

Photo

Joseph Simba