By: George Wagata
The government has unveiled plans to establish a special committee aimed at addressing challenges faced by Kenyans in accessing services under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muriuki, made the announcement during the launch of a three-day medical camp in Chinga Ward, Nyeri County.
While lauding the strides made in rolling out SHA, PS Muriuki acknowledged gaps in implementation, particularly in aligning benefits with contributions made by Kenyans.
The new committee’s primary focus will be addressing concerns about the benefit package, which has drawn criticism for its limited coverage compared to the deductions remitted to the scheme.
“We have challenges with SHA. This is a project where we have achieved 100 percent rollout, but that does not mean the government is complacent. We are addressing the issues raised to ensure Kenyans feel the impact of this scheme,” PS Muriuki stated.
She reassured Kenyans of the government’s commitment to expanding SHA’s benefits to cover previously excluded areas under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), such as dental and optical services.
“You may feel that the current coverage is insufficient, but these services were not available before. The enhanced packages under SHA are designed to cater to previously neglected areas, ensuring more comprehensive care,” she added.
The medical camp, organized by Chinga Member of County Assembly Kiruga Thuku in partnership with the Chronic Disease Society Africa and the Nyeri County Government, provided free medical services to residents.
Services included cancer awareness and screening, as well as checks for noncommunicable diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension. Community Health Promoters were also present to train and register residents for SHA. To date, more than 18.2 million Kenyans have registered for the program.
PS Muriuki urged elected leaders to avoid politicizing the health scheme and instead use their influence to encourage Kenyans to enroll and utilize its benefits.
“As leaders, we must never politicize health matters. Instead, we should educate our communities on the importance of registering for SHA and following the correct referral system to access medical care,” she emphasized.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which oversees SHA, remains committed to ensuring accessible, transparent, and comprehensive health services for all Kenyans.
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