SHIF Hits Another Hurdle After Increased Patient Suffering
Church leaders, led by National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) chairperson Bishop Alphonso Kanga, have condemned the ongoing Social Health Authority (SHA) implementation.
They have instead urged the administration to prioritize Kenyans over raising additional funds.
Their concerns about the new health insurance fund have been sparked by reports of Kenyans being compelled to pay out of pocket.
This is despite having paid for insurance for procedures that were previously completely covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
A month following the SHA launch, NCCK, which preceded faith-based organizations’ medical institutions, presented its diagnosis.
Coast NCCK calls for the suspension of SHIF and a return to NHIF in order to implement better structures pic.twitter.com/RJw1fYDoBP
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) November 9, 2024
The church leaders have challenged the government to return to NHIF while it reviews SHA and ensures it is fully operational before taking over.
According to the leaders, SHA and SHIF were implemented hastily, as evidenced by numerous complaints from Kenyans.
“It does not make sense to us that Kenyans are now paying more money but are getting fewer benefits, we are moving from okay to worse,” Bishop Kanga revealed.
Nyeri Diocese Archbishop Antony Muheria also echoed NCCK comments, stating that what is happening at SHIF breaches every part of human rights protection.
“With the shift from NHIF to SHIF, we don’t seem to have had that thought of the sick, people who die because they can’t get services that’s our main concern,” Muheria stated.
At a canonization mass in Nyeri, Archbishop Anthony Muheria accused the government of making policies which negatively impact the poor.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) November 8, 2024
While pointing out the shift from NHIF to SHIF which he claims was not properly done, the Bishop said the government was out of touch with… pic.twitter.com/EUs7q9KBxR
“If the common man is not fully attended to according to his or her needs, how can we convince our members that the SHIF is working,” Bishop Joseph Ngige of AIPCA reiterated.
CHAK, which represents Protestant religious organizations, claims to have registered 563 faith-based health institutions.
This includes 53 centers, 23 hospitals, 381 dispensaries, 64 church organizations, 26 church programs, and 16 medical training institutes and universities.
The Ministry of Health has denied calls for a review of the SHIF, claiming that the system works.
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Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has claimed that people criticising SHA and SHIF are misguided.
“Regarding the stranded patients, we are requesting that they can reach out through the call center to SHA and each individual case will be addressed accordingly,” Barasa stated.
The CS was preceding the graduation of specialized nurses at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KNH) on Friday.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto continues to advocate for SHIF, claiming that the government intends to ensure that all Kenyans receive medical care without the need for payment.
SHIF Hits Another Hurdle After Increased Patient Suffering
