Uproar after SHA flags hospital payment list as fake

SHA acting Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira. [File, Standard]

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has pulled down the payment list of Sh11.4 billion made to hospitals.

SHA acting Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira said criminals downloaded and doctored the payment list.

Immediately after the issue was reported, Ingasira said the document was pulled down, with a notice flagged to alert hospitals not to fall into traps of criminals.

“Some people had downloaded the list, doctored it and were using it to con hospitals, telling them they are helping hospitals to be paid,” said Ingasira.

The public had poked holes into inconsistency in relaying information about hospital payments, after the list of SH11.4 billion pay was made public, only for it to be pulled down.

Further, the list was flagged as fake, only for the notice bearing fake notice to be deleted within SHA portal and website on Monday.

In an interview with The Standard, the SHA chief executive said a number of hospitals called the authority, complaining that unknown individuals were reaching out, claiming to be reconciling National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) debt.

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“Hospitals reported to us that individuals who posed like SHA employees reached out to them, asking them to share their details so that they could help them process claims for NHIF debt,” said Ingasira.

But he maintained that the list on the website was factual, bearing a list of hospitals and the amount of money paid.

Immediately after the complaints, he said the list was pulled down, and an alert was issued to warn hospitals not to be victims of cons.

The complaints were raised on Thursday and Friday last week, and had the list pulled down over the weekend.

In the notice published on its website titled "Notice on Claims Management," SHA cautioned healthcare providers and the public that the payment analysis document was fake and should be disregarded.

Further, the notice assured hospitals that updates regarding the pending NHIF debt payments would be communicated directly to them, with claims payments made directly to healthcare providers.

It warned that SHA does not work with intermediaries, and if any provider encountered suspicious activity, they should report to SHA or police for action.

But Ingasira did not have a list of hospitals that complained of having received calls from suspected criminals.

The matter was not also reported to authorities for action.

“Hospitals complained, but they were not ready to report. We directed them to come to SHA so that we could help trace the criminal together with the authority, but they remained adamant,” he said.

The CEO maintained that payment of Sh5 billion pending NHIF to hospitals, will be paid sooner.

“The communication was meant to alert hospitals and the public that there is no go between SHA and facilities and debt claims by President Ruto will be communicated officially. Hospitals should not be exposed to robbers,” he warned.

The list published on the SHA website according to Ingasira was genuine, and it will be put up after reconciliation for the sake of transparency and accountability.

In the list published last week private, public, mission and faith based health facilities received their two months pay, from December 3, 2024 and February 3, 2025.

Counties leading in SHA payments include Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, KIsii, Kiambu, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Wajir, Meru, Nakuru and Mandera, Migori, Kirinyaga, Bungoma, Mombasa, Kericho, Kakamega and Nyeri.

“We vowed to continue publishing on website. Some hospitals were lying that they are not being paid yet they are paid. The list was meant to alert those who were about to be conned,’ he said.

Ingasira’s assurance comes after individuals poked holes into inconsistency, in the way the authority managed the information.

Apart from payment, the list will separate money paid primary healthcare and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Primary healthcare is paid for by the exchequer, whereas SHIF is from 2.75 per cent contributions made by Kenyans.

Hospitals had also requested publication of total collections made by Kenyans, total claims owed to hospitals including those paid.

Currently, SHA officials together with Ministry of Health is conducting county follow-ups rolling out Taifa Care digitalisation.

The follow-ups entails engagements with County Governors and healthcare staff to understand areas they want to know about SHA and to train and make them understand SHA dashboard to help them how claims are progressing.

Taita Care digitalisation was first launched in Mombasa county, followed by Embu.

Efforts are underway to have all counties embrace the technology, in ensuring a unified approach to healthcare transformation.