SHA: Access to dialysis, cancer, and maternity services guaranteed

Ministry of Health Acting Chief Executive Officer Elijah Wachira. [Boniface Okendo, Standard

No contracted health providers will deny members access to dialysis, cancer, or maternity services, Social Health Authority boss Elijah Wachira now says. 

His remarks follow several complaints from the public that some health providers have informed patients they will need to pay cash for these services moving forward.

Netizen DJ Krowbar took to X to raise concern about the potential impact on dialysis patients if SHA excludes them from its payment scheme. 

Krowbar wrote, "This SHIF/SHA thing just threw a huge curveball on all dialysis patients nationwide. My wife just received a call from her dialysis center, where payments are covered by NHIF, and was told to pay cash, along with thousands of others."

He said that one dialysis session costs Sh9,500, a fee previously covered by NHIF.

Wachira reassured the public: "No member will be denied access to dialysis or cancer services. Maternity services should not be denied at Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH) level 2 and 3 facilities, and actively managed schemes will continue to access services."

The Acting CEO further clarified that claims for patients admitted before September 30 will still be processed through NHIF, regardless of their discharge date.

Reiterating his remarks, Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Mlongo noted that Kenyans covered by NHIF and yet to shift to SHA will still receive treatment.

However, they will be required to register as soon as possible.

"Those that were under the NHIF cover and haven't transitioned to SHA will still be attended to. No hospital will send anyone back home because they haven't registered. Instead, they will register you and treat you, " said Mlongo.

Their statements coincide with the government’s official rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) today, which is set to take over responsibilities previously managed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

As of Monday, September 30, over 2 million Kenyans had registered under the new scheme, with more expected to join as SHA becomes fully operational.