NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has directed all civil servants to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) by October 1, 2024.
This mandate comes as part of the country’s transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), which promises enhanced benefits, fairer contributions, and broader access to healthcare.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, outlined a collaborative effort among ministries to ensure the smooth implementation of the SHIF.
The Ministry of Energy and Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy has been tasked with ensuring that health facilities across the country are connected to the internet and have stable power supply.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education will support the registration of students, while the Ministry of Interior will assist in the rollout through its National Government Administrative Offices (NGAOs) network.
Mwaura reported that, as of September 3, 2024, a total of 861,101 Kenyans had already registered with the SHA.
9,792 health facilities, including 2,008 public and 7,784 private or faith-based institutions, are now licensed under the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to provide services under the new healthcare system.
With draft contracts between the government and healthcare providers now finalized, Mwaura said the next step is to raise public awareness about the shift to SHIF.
Engagement with healthcare providers will commence once tariff guidelines are officially gazetted.
Key aspects of the SHIF structure include a mandatory contribution rate of 2.75% of gross salary for salaried employees, with non-salaried individuals contributing a similar percentage based on means testing.
The national and county governments will shoulder the insurance costs for vulnerable populations, including those in custody, the poor, and the severely disabled, as part of social protection measures.
The transition from NHIF to SHIF introduces various benefits such as digitized services, biometric verification, independent accreditation of healthcare providers, and a wider range of services.
The monthly premium has been reduced from Sh500 to Sh300, providing more affordable coverage.
The SHA card will grant Kenyans access to public, private, and faith-based health facilities across the country.
Mwaura emphasized that the SHIF is designed to ensure fair contributions from all sectors and provide emergency care and universal coverage, with the government offering support to the most vulnerable.
This mandate comes as part of the country’s transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), which promises enhanced benefits, fairer contributions, and broader access to healthcare.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, outlined a collaborative effort among ministries to ensure the smooth implementation of the SHIF.
The Ministry of Energy and Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy has been tasked with ensuring that health facilities across the country are connected to the internet and have stable power supply.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education will support the registration of students, while the Ministry of Interior will assist in the rollout through its National Government Administrative Offices (NGAOs) network.
Mwaura reported that, as of September 3, 2024, a total of 861,101 Kenyans had already registered with the SHA.
9,792 health facilities, including 2,008 public and 7,784 private or faith-based institutions, are now licensed under the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to provide services under the new healthcare system.
With draft contracts between the government and healthcare providers now finalized, Mwaura said the next step is to raise public awareness about the shift to SHIF.
Engagement with healthcare providers will commence once tariff guidelines are officially gazetted.
Key aspects of the SHIF structure include a mandatory contribution rate of 2.75% of gross salary for salaried employees, with non-salaried individuals contributing a similar percentage based on means testing.
The national and county governments will shoulder the insurance costs for vulnerable populations, including those in custody, the poor, and the severely disabled, as part of social protection measures.
The transition from NHIF to SHIF introduces various benefits such as digitized services, biometric verification, independent accreditation of healthcare providers, and a wider range of services.
The monthly premium has been reduced from Sh500 to Sh300, providing more affordable coverage.
The SHA card will grant Kenyans access to public, private, and faith-based health facilities across the country.
Mwaura emphasized that the SHIF is designed to ensure fair contributions from all sectors and provide emergency care and universal coverage, with the government offering support to the most vulnerable.
