MPs should explain benefits of SHA to clear doubt, win confidence

Social Health Authority building in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The call by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo, on MPs to help disseminate the correct information about the Social Health Authority (SHA), could be the remaining tick of approval to win public confidence.

Speaking before MPs in a joint Speakers’ Kamukunji for both Houses of Parliament, Dr Mulongo was subjected to a critical test by members who asked her every possible question trending about SHA.

She faced the MPs, led by their two Speakers, Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate), and put up a credible explanation of facts, may be just what the project needs to dismantle the headwind mounted by numerous critics, trashing it wholesale.

Worthy of note was the fact that the CS and her senior staff admitted that SHA was facing many teething problems, as expected of such a massive project. However, widespread misinformation has made the public doubt and shun registration.

The take-off of SHA has admittedly hit unexpected turbulence, but it can be stabilised. If the public can be convinced to register willingly, most of the other glitches will be smoothed out.

Speaker Wetangula saw the point the Minister was making and urged the members to support the process of registration of wananchi who probably have not been told well whether the registration process costs money or not. This is not an AI generated programme, a computer will give you what you feed it, if you don’t register you are not captured and therefore you don’t get the service.

His Senate counterpart, Kingi, echoed his sentiments saying there was inadequate sensitisation of the public, giving social media critics space to mislead Kenyans.

Kingi said there is something the public are yet to understand which leaders must address. When Kenyans refuse to register, claiming they are being asked to pay a certain amount of money and yet registration is free, it means leaders have work to do.

To prove that despite bad publicity and the barrage of social media war, SHA is making steady progress, the CS said 9.8 million Kenyans had migrated to the new health scheme, attributing the main challenge to many patients seeking treatment before registering first.

She explained told MPs that many of those seeking medical services try last minute registration, some lack required documentations or have not registered their dependants.

She pleaded with MPs to use their vantage positions to debunk fake information, like the claim that Sh200,000 was required before treatment can be authorised.

She gave a breakdown of the status of implementation of Universal Health Care, progress of SHA registration, benefits, package and applicable tariffs, which make the health scheme stand on solid ground when fully operational.

If the minister’s assurance is the test of SHA’s take-off, then Kenyans should allow time for this programme to settle. She said she came when the plane was just leaving the runway and as it ascended, it faced a little turbulence and thick clouds but it is now above and she is steering it.

She assured Kenyans of attaining affordable, accessible and quality healthcare. MPs, as the informed leaders have a huge role to play to win Kenyans’confidence in the health scheme.

-The writer is a communications consultant