A records officer at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, has raised concern over low compliance in contributions to the Social Health Authority (SHA), despite a high number of registered members.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency (KNA) the facility’s Records Officer, Max Livea, said that while many residents have enrolled under SHA, a significant number have not made the required payments, limiting their access to services.
The SHA, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), was introduced to address gaps in the previous system and support Kenya’s push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Mr. Livea noted that patients without active SHA coverage are often required to pay for services out of pocket, a situation that poses a major challenge, particularly for those unable to afford medical expenses.
“In such cases, patients are asked to make payments, which many cannot afford,” he said.
He clarified that system delays, rather than inefficiency, are often mistaken for failure of the SHA platform, noting that issues typically take between two to three hours to resolve.
He emphasized that in emergency situations or system downtimes, patients are treated first before administrative processes are completed.
Mr. Livea further explained that not all medical services are fully covered under SHA. He cited dialysis and outpatient imaging as examples of services not included in the scheme. For critical cases such as admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), patients are required to pay Ksh 20,000 upfront, with SHA covering the remaining costs.
“The main challenge we face is patients registering for SHA but not paying. We need to address this and encourage timely contributions,” he added.
He called on the public and community health volunteers to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of active SHA membership.
“SHA is affordable and enables access to a wide range of services, including free tests, medication, and outpatient care. I urge everyone to register and make payments early instead of waiting for emergencies,” he said.
By Anna Achieng
