Gov’t Set To Form Special Committee To Address SHA Barriers
The government plans to form a committee to address the problems that Kenyans face when obtaining Social Health Authority (SHA) services.
Mary Muriuki Muthoni, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, confirmed this.
Ms Muthoni recognized that, while the government has made tremendous progress in rolling out SHA, it is facing a few problems that are impeding full implementation of the medical system.
According to the PS, the special committee will, among other things, discuss the benefit package.
She also stated that the policy has drawn strong criticism from Kenyans, who are pushing for a review to align the benefits with the deductions made to the plan.
“We have challenges with SHA. This is a project for which we have gotten 100 per cent, but it doesn’t mean that the government is sitting pretty and moving on,” she said.
“We are fixing the issues so that we lower the voices of those who are saying SHA is paying very little of the medical bills.”
The PS spoke at Othaya, Nyeri, at the start of a three-day medical camp organized by the Chinga Member of County Assembly, Kiruga Thuku.
The event was also organized in partnership with the Chronic Disease Society of Africa and the Nyeri County Government.
During the medical camp, Chinga locals received free cancer awareness and screening, as well as screening for noncommunicable disorders like arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension.
The medical camp also gave an opportunity for Community Health Promoters to deliver training and register individuals in SHA with the PS, with over 18.2 million Kenyans now enrolled.
She stated that, in addition to the improved packages, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will provide additional services not previously covered by the National Health Insurance Fund.
“We have enhanced the packages to ensure they have more funds to cover areas that no insurance cover used to cater for, such as optics and dental. You may complain that the money is little, but it was not there before,” she stated.
At the same time, the PS warned political leaders against politicizing the medical program and encouraged them to use their position as leaders to encourage Kenyans to register and begin benefiting from the increased medical coverage.
“As leaders, we must never politicise health. We must also distance ourselves from anything that will jeopardise a programme that is helping the people,” stated the PS.
“We should tell the people that if they register for SHA, there is a guarantee that if they follow the correct referral system and visit the right medical facility, they will receive treatment.”
Gov’t Set To Form Special Committee To Address SHA Barriers
