The Social Health Authority (SHA) North rift Regional Manager Valentine Morogo has urged individuals and households to prioritize registering for the new health scheme in order to access all services from public and private health facilities across the country.
Speaking during a public forum which brought together health experts from various fields to assess the progress of Social Health Authority (SHA) and its challenges and explore strategies for long-term sustainability in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, the Regional SHA Manager underscored that the registration has reached 22 million Kenyans, with significant enrolment in the region.
Noting that the new scheme has numerous benefits as compared to its predecessor NHIF, she urged Kenyans of all walks of life to consider registering for SHA.
She affirmed the government’s commitment to ensure accessible, affordable, sustainable, and quality healthcare for all Kenyan citizens and residents, including expanding healthcare coverage through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Dr Morogo explained that individuals and households can easily access a wide range of healthcare services through its various benefits packages which cover preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services.
Additionally, the packages also include emergency, critical care, and chronic illness management.
In regard to the premium package queries from the members of the public in the forum who included People with Disabilities (PWDs) and vulnerable groups, Dr Morogo said that the SHA uses means testing to establish a person’s contribution capability which involves assessing various socio-economic factors like household composition, housing, access to basic services, asset ownership, education, and employment.
The health stakeholders in the forum acknowledged that there were challenges with system functionality and service provider access but there have been improvements in claims submission and training to ensure awareness by the public.
In his remarks, Dr Reuben Korir, Medical Superintendent at the Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital, Uasin Gishu, indicated that despite the obstacles that SHA encounters, it has also received support from the leaders of the county and community.
He noted that they have also been able to encourage many Kenyans to register for SHA when they seek services at their facility and by so doing it has encouraged the less fortunate in the society to access health care services.
The Medical Superintendent also said the idea behind SHA is to improve health outcomes and to increase access to health technologies.
By Dorothy Chepkwemoi
