Petition Launched Seeking To Disband SHA, Restore NHIF
Trouble is developing for the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a petition to abolish the new health program gains momentum.
Hannah Nderitu launched a Change.org petition on Sunday to collect signatures for a petition to dismantle the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and reinstate the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Hannah Nderitu has started a petition on https://t.co/LGcPP0YfA7 on Sunday aiming to collect signatures for a petition seeking to disband the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and restore the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
— Sael (@SmaugSael) December 15, 2024
The lobby organization stated that restoring NHIF and correcting its flaws is the country’s best chance of securing a healthcare system that will relieve the challenges produced by the new scheme.
As a result, the lobbying group urged Kenyans to sign the petition to help win it.
“As someone deeply concerned and directly impacted by the state of health care in Kenya, I fervently call for the restoration of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF),” Hannah shared.
According to the advocacy organization, SHIF/SHA, or Taifa Care, has failed to operate in accordance with the Kenyan Constitution and needs immediate action.
“The efficacy and funding model of SHIF/SHA have resulted in substandard and overly expensive medical care, leaving millions of Kenyans burdened and distraught,” Hannah pointed out.
One point of controversy in the SHIF is out-of-pocket health expenses. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, out-of-pocket health expenditure in Kenya accounts for 26% of overall health expenditure.
The 26 percent out-of-pocket cost underlines the health system’s failure to meet its goal of universal care.
“We must remind ourselves that reliable and affordable health care is not just a demand, it is a constitutional right,” the lobby group noted.
The SHA was founded as part of the execution of the Social Health Insurance Act, No. 16 of 2023 (SHIA), which seeks to improve healthcare access and affordability for all Kenyans.
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SHA is in charge of managing the newly established Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) which went into effect on October 1, 2024.
However, since its launch, SHA has faced numerous significant problems that have hampered its effectiveness and accessibility to patients.
Patients at all types of healthcare facilities, public, private, and mission, are paying more out of cash for primary care services and pharmaceutical refills that were previously covered by NHIF.
Patients with chronic disorders like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease face systemic barriers that prevent them from receiving timely and economical care.
Petition Launched Seeking To Disband SHA, Restore NHIF
