UDA MP Highlights Dangers Of SHA In An Explosive Letter To National Assembly Speaker
On Tuesday, November 12, Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, requesting an adjournment of house business to discuss the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The member asked Wetangula to consider her request for an adjournment, claiming that the SHIF system has various flaws.
“There exists a growing uncertainty and confusion on the Implementation of SHIF countrywide. This Morning I wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking to adjourn the house business to Debate on SHIF,” Wamuchomba stated.
“Achieving this requires fundamental changes to create a health system that can deliver. The current system is riddled with inefficiencies and fragmentation,” she added.
“The resources and funds are either misused or overused resulting in substandard health outcomes. Kenya has been on a journey to fix the healthcare system to make it more equal, accessible, and affordable for all.”
There exist a growing uncerternity and confusion on the Implementation of SHIF country wide .
— Hon.Gathoni Wamuchomba, HSC, MP (@hon_wamuchomba) November 12, 2024
This Morning i wrote to the Speaker of National Assembly asking to ADJOURN the house business to Debate on SHIF.#Womanforthejob. pic.twitter.com/W55ef9ept7
Wamuchomba further stated that Parliament was given 90 days to examine the suspended measures but has yet to act, despite the rollout.
According to the congressman, various legal matters involving the SHIF are still ongoing in court, making it unsuitable for the government to proceed with implementing the program.
“In this regard and the above-explained grave situation, I wish to indulge you to consider as a matter of priority to adjourn the business of the house on 12th November 2024 to debate and deliberate on resolving the deplorable health crisis facing the country,” Wamuchomba stated in her letter.
“I want to draw your attention to the fact that on 19 July 2024, the High Court declared some provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA), the Digital Health Act (DHA), and the Primary Health Care Act (PHCA) unconstitutional but suspended the effect of its judgment for 120 days to allow for Parliament to make amendments to the inherent unconstitutional provisions and public participation in the respective Acts.
“This is yet to be done by Parliament. There are still legal challenges in court on the implementation of SHIF,” the lawmaker added.
Wamuchomba claimed that the SHIF system was doomed because prominent government officials publicly admitted to the scheme’s shortcomings.
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The senator, known for her firm stance on public-interest issues, requested that Wetangula set aside Tuesday afternoon to tackle the country’s health situation.
This, she emphasized, was especially crucial because most Kenyans rely on the facilities for access to medical treatment.
“Further, Cabinet Secretary and other top Ministry officials have publicly admitted severally that new health insurance system is facing challenges and was reverting to a manual system,” Wamuchomba stated.
“It has also emerged that most of the counties have not signed an Intergovernmental Participatory Agreement (IPA) with the implementation authority (SHA) yet most of the health facilities are run by counties and are responsible for the primary healthcare services,” she added.
UDA MP Highlights Dangers Of SHA In An Explosive Letter To National Assembly Speaker
