The effectiveness of Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) has been under scrutiny by Members of Parliament (MPs), with several key discussions and admissions coming to light recently.
During a recent mid-term retreat in Nakuru, MPs, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, have openly criticised the SHA for its inefficiencies.
This marks a shift from previous support, highlighting issues like system downtimes, lengthy approval procedures, and general operational failures.
This acknowledgement came after SHA’s officials, including Chairperson Mohamed Abdi, attempted to defend the scheme’s implementation but left MPs unsatisfied with their explanations.
There has been significant public doubt and misinformation surrounding SHA, which has impacted its rollout. Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo has called on MPs to help disseminate accurate information to clear misconceptions and enhance public confidence.
Despite the SHA’s progress in registering millions of Kenyans, the actual number of active, paid-up members remains low, pointing to communication and sensitisation issues.
A notable 46% of health facilities in Kenya have yet to fully adopt the SHA’s e-contracting platform, highlighting technical challenges, insufficient training, financial strains, and issues with patient verification.
These have led to concerns about the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA, affecting healthcare delivery.
Speaker Moses Wetangula has directed MPs and county governments to actively engage in popularising SHA at the grassroots level to improve its effectiveness.
There is also an ongoing effort to resolve problems identified by MPs during parliamentary sessions, with a scheduled report back to the House on February 11, 2025.
Posts on social platforms reflect a growing dissatisfaction with SHA among the public and MPs alike.
There’s a sentiment that the initial support for SHA by MPs might have been premature, as they now question the scheme’s readiness and effectiveness.