NAKURU, Kenya – In a bid to relieve financial strain on Kenya’s health facilities, the Ministry of Health announced the release of Sh9 billion to the Social Health Authority (SHA) to clear debts owed to healthcare providers, especially those incurred through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) before SHA’s inception.
The funds, scheduled for release by the end of the week, aim to ease the financial burden on hospitals and ensure continued patient care, according to Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai.
Of the Sh9 billion, Sh1 billion is allocated specifically to the Linda Mama programme, which provides free maternal healthcare.
Kimtai emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring no patient is turned away from care. “We’re committed to addressing challenges to ensure no patient is turned away,” he said, speaking in Nakuru County during the launch of the Rift Region Multi-Sectoral Committee.
The committee, comprising county officials from 13 counties, will help drive SHA registration efforts across the region.
The newly released funds follow an initial disbursement of Sh4 billion last week, although debt pressures remain high.
Approximately Sh30 billion is owed to facilities nationwide, with Sh12 billion specifically owed to county facilities.
This debt has severely impacted private and faith-based hospitals, many of which have begun asking patients to pay in cash due to delays and technical challenges with SHA’s IT system.
Faith-based institutions, such as the Christian Health Association of Kenya and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, were recently forced to reduce services due to an unpaid Sh7 billion from NHIF.
This debt includes charges from programs like EduAfya and Linda Mama, and remains partially unresolved.
Cancer patients are among those bearing the brunt of this transition, with many still paying out-of-pocket for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other essential services in private and mission hospitals.
SHA has empanelled 55 private and faith-based cancer centers, yet facilities report that ongoing technical issues prevent them from accessing the SHA portal, which has led them to charge patients directly rather than risk providing services on credit.
Representatives from the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations and the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya raised concerns about SHA’s current system, which they said leaves cancer patients vulnerable.
Phoebe Ongadi, the network’s executive director, warned, “The current situation is untenable and jeopardises the health of cancer patients across the country.” Cancer remains Kenya’s third leading cause of death, with an estimated 44,700 new cases and 29,300 deaths annually.
Prisca Githuka, chair of the Cancer Survivors Association, called for a swift resolution, stating that many cancer patients already facing late-stage diagnoses depend on uninterrupted access to treatment.
“The recent transition to SHA has, unfortunately, created barriers to accessing this life-saving care,” Githuka said.
The two organizations jointly urged the government to restore full cancer service coverage across all facilities, ensure SHA’s IT system functions smoothly, and reintroduce overseas treatment options for those who cannot access specialized care locally.
They also called for transparency on SHA’s oncology packages and engagement with civil society to inform the public about available services.
SHA’s rollout has involved partnerships with the Council of Governors, securing 26 agreements to enhance medical equipment access in public facilities and deploying 70 technical officers to county health centers to ease the transition.
The funds, scheduled for release by the end of the week, aim to ease the financial burden on hospitals and ensure continued patient care, according to Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai.
Of the Sh9 billion, Sh1 billion is allocated specifically to the Linda Mama programme, which provides free maternal healthcare.
Kimtai emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring no patient is turned away from care. “We’re committed to addressing challenges to ensure no patient is turned away,” he said, speaking in Nakuru County during the launch of the Rift Region Multi-Sectoral Committee.
The committee, comprising county officials from 13 counties, will help drive SHA registration efforts across the region.
The newly released funds follow an initial disbursement of Sh4 billion last week, although debt pressures remain high.
Approximately Sh30 billion is owed to facilities nationwide, with Sh12 billion specifically owed to county facilities.
This debt has severely impacted private and faith-based hospitals, many of which have begun asking patients to pay in cash due to delays and technical challenges with SHA’s IT system.
Faith-based institutions, such as the Christian Health Association of Kenya and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, were recently forced to reduce services due to an unpaid Sh7 billion from NHIF.
This debt includes charges from programs like EduAfya and Linda Mama, and remains partially unresolved.
Cancer patients are among those bearing the brunt of this transition, with many still paying out-of-pocket for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other essential services in private and mission hospitals.
SHA has empanelled 55 private and faith-based cancer centers, yet facilities report that ongoing technical issues prevent them from accessing the SHA portal, which has led them to charge patients directly rather than risk providing services on credit.
Representatives from the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations and the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya raised concerns about SHA’s current system, which they said leaves cancer patients vulnerable.
Phoebe Ongadi, the network’s executive director, warned, “The current situation is untenable and jeopardises the health of cancer patients across the country.” Cancer remains Kenya’s third leading cause of death, with an estimated 44,700 new cases and 29,300 deaths annually.
Prisca Githuka, chair of the Cancer Survivors Association, called for a swift resolution, stating that many cancer patients already facing late-stage diagnoses depend on uninterrupted access to treatment.
“The recent transition to SHA has, unfortunately, created barriers to accessing this life-saving care,” Githuka said.
The two organizations jointly urged the government to restore full cancer service coverage across all facilities, ensure SHA’s IT system functions smoothly, and reintroduce overseas treatment options for those who cannot access specialized care locally.
They also called for transparency on SHA’s oncology packages and engagement with civil society to inform the public about available services.
SHA’s rollout has involved partnerships with the Council of Governors, securing 26 agreements to enhance medical equipment access in public facilities and deploying 70 technical officers to county health centers to ease the transition.
