EXPLAINER: SHA’s Step-By-Step Procedure For Patients Seeking Inpatient Services
The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued a notice to patients who use the Social Health Authority (SHA) to access inpatient care at the public hospital.
Following an outcry about technical challenges encountered during patient admittance via SHA, KNH issued a warning on Tuesday, July 8, outlining a three-step process for patients.
Patients complained of excessive expenses, maximum admittance charges, and SHA system failures at the institution, which receives a large number of patients every day.
Patients seeking critical medical care were compelled to pay large fees out of pocket, despite having registered for the government-backed health premium.
Notice to our esteemed patients on @_shakenya admissions.#KNHInakujali pic.twitter.com/FTErqz64a0
— Kenyatta National Hospital (@KNH_hospital) July 8, 2025
Patients must carry the national identification card they used to register for SHA during the initial step of the process.
The second step is to ensure that one has obtained a reference number from SHA.
After getting the number, ensure that you have received a confirmation number from SHA indicating that your visit was successfully launched.
The third and last step is to check one’s Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) status to see if it is operational.
If it is inactive, patients should activate it right away and return to the health information desk for a new reference number.
According to KNH, doing so ensures that the SHA coverage is effective from the date it is granted.
KNH warned that SHA would not cover any costs if the admission entry was not properly referenced at the time of entry.
Currently, the SHA inpatient package at KNH, a Level 6 hospital, includes disease/condition management during admission, pre-admission evaluation, hospital housing expenses, meals, and nursing care in general ward beds.
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Other services include intra-admission consultations and reviews, laboratories, imaging, procedures, medications, and bedside care.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, oxygen, therapeutic nutritional support, transfusion, post-discharge medication, and follow-up are all part of the treatment regimen.
In terms of cost, SHA waives Ksh5,000 each day, with a maximum of 50 days per household.
Once a patient reaches 50 days, the associated expenditures are charged to the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
EXPLAINER: SHA’s Step-By-Step Procedure For Patients Seeking Inpatient Services
