Residents of Uasin Gishu County have been encouraged to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), with the Director of Race Course Hospital, Teresa Bonareri Orwenyo, saying the new health financing scheme is working effectively and has significantly improved access to quality and affordable healthcare.
Orwenyo, a retired nurse, said the Social Health Authority has transformed Kenya’s healthcare financing system by facilitating direct payments to accredited health facilities, enabling hospitals to settle patient claims and invest in improved healthcare services.
Speaking in an interview with the Kenya News Agency, the Racecourse Hospital director said SHA was proving to be more efficient and accessible, particularly because patients can register and begin accessing services immediately.
“I encourage Kenyans to embrace and register with the new Social Health Authority. It is efficient in terms of registration, and one can access services immediately after registering, unlike the previous NHIF. SHA is the way to ensure a healthy society and a prosperous Kenya,” said Orwenyo.
She praised the structure of the new healthcare financing system, saying its specialised funds had expanded access to different levels of medical care.
The Primary Healthcare Fund, she noted, supports basic healthcare services and clinic visits, while the Social Health Insurance Fund caters to inpatient and outpatient services. The Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund, on the other hand, provides a safety net for patients requiring specialised and costly treatment.
Orwenyo said the impact of the scheme was already being felt at Race Course Hospital, a Level 5 private health facility in Uasin Gishu County, where payments received through SHA had helped the institution upgrade its medical equipment and strengthen its capacity to offer specialized services.
She said the hospital had acquired advanced diagnostic equipment, including a CT scan machine and improved X-ray services, enabling patients to access critical diagnostic procedures without having to travel to other facilities.
“From our experience at Race Course Hospital, SHA is working 100 per cent. We have been able to procure machines like this CT scan from SHA payments. It has really helped in transforming how we offer our services since claims are approved and paid on a timely basis,” she said.
According to Orwenyo, the investment in modern medical equipment has enhanced the hospital’s ability to provide high-quality care and improve patient outcomes.
The facility offers secondary referral care, specialised inpatient treatment, advanced surgical procedures, and diagnostic services under the SHA secondary and tertiary healthcare framework.
Orwenyo said the hospital was equipped to handle a wide range of medical needs and welcomed Kenyans seeking services covered under the new health insurance programme.
“I welcome all Kenyans seeking medical care to our facility. Here, we register patients for SHA and provide all services, including outpatient and inpatient care, specialised treatment, ICU services, surgical procedures, and dialysis. We also offer infertility treatment, among other services,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the continued implementation of the Social Health Authority would help ease the financial burden of healthcare on Kenyan families while strengthening health facilities through a more reliable system of claims processing and reimbursement.
Orwenyo urged more Kenyans, particularly those who are yet to enroll, to register with SHA and take advantage of the healthcare services available through accredited facilities.
She said increased enrollment would be crucial in supporting the government’s efforts towards achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that more Kenyans can access essential, specialized, and emergency medical services without facing catastrophic financial hardships.
The Race Course Hospital director maintained that, based on the facility’s experience, SHA had demonstrated its potential to transform healthcare delivery by linking patient access to sustainable financing for health institutions.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
