By N, KNA
The Social Health Authority (SHA) will in the next two months launch a nationwide emergency care system designed to provide all Kenyans with access to free ambulance evacuation and treatment for the first 24 hours of an emergency.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi addressing the media in a Nairobi hotel today said the programme, to be unveiled by President William Ruto, will guarantee every Kenyan whether registered or not, the constitutional right to emergency care.
“Each and every Kenyan will soon be able to pick up the phone, dial a toll-free number, and inform the dispatcher of an emergency. SHA will then dispatch an ambulance to move the patient from the scene to the nearest emergency care centre,” Dr Mwangangi explained.
She said the system will be supported by a fully digitised electronic platform capable of identifying a caller’s location, mapping the nearest ambulance, and directing patients to the most suitable emergency care centre.
SHA will reimburse ambulance providers at Sh4,500 for evacuations within 25 kilometres and at Sh75 per kilometre for longer distances to sustain the service.
The authority will also cover the first 24 hours of hospital care, after which patients will either continue treatment under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) or pay out of pocket if not registered.
“It is very important for Kenyans to understand that the evacuation will be free, and the first 24 hours will be free. However, after that period, one must either be a paid-up SHIF member or cover the costs directly,” Dr Mwangangi said, adding that the programme is not limited to road ambulances but will also include boats in counties that rely on water transport.
She noted that only accredited and contracted ambulance service providers will be engaged to guarantee quality of care.
Dr Mwangangi said callers need only describe the situation and not the medical condition, as dispatchers are trained to categorise emergencies appropriately.
She warned that the service will not be available for routine appointments such as dialysis sessions, noting that strict protocols will be followed to prevent misuse.
Dr Benjamin Wachira, Executive Director of the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF), described the initiative as a milestone that will transform healthcare delivery and reduce preventable deaths.
He said that for the first time Kenya will have a public ambulance service running across the entire country, saving countless lives of mothers in childbirth, accident victims, and patients who often die before reaching hospital.
“The programme is modelled on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Emergency Care System Framework and has been designed to be sustainable. The aim is to provide care right from the community, stabilise patients, and transport them to properly equipped centres,” Dr Wachira said.
He expressed optimism that the rollout will enable Kenya to meet global standards in emergency response, adding that the system will make it possible to save lives out in the community and reduce mortality rates significantly.
Health Economist Faith Tonkei outlined SHA’s three financing mechanisms the Primary Health Care Fund, which already covers 26 million Kenyans at lower-level facilities; the Social Health Insurance Fund, a contributory scheme and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), which includes emergency evacuation.
She clarified that eligibility is universal and that anyone in need will be evacuated regardless of registration or identity.
“Out-of-pocket care is expensive. That is why we encourage Kenyans to register and pay for SHIF to avoid financial hardship after stabilisation,” she said.
According to SHA officials, emergencies covered under the package will include life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest, strokes, severe bleeding, and pregnancy-related complications. Trained dispatchers will triage calls, provide telephonic instructions, and decide whether an ambulance is needed.
Tonkei said the authority is contracting both private and public ambulances to expand coverage and ensure rapid response, with all providers required to meet standards set by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council. She urged the media to support public awareness by informing Kenyans of the service.
“This benefit package is not just policy; it is a promise in motion. With your platforms, Kenyans will know that this lifeline exists,” she said.
Dr Mwangangi and Dr Wachira expressed hope that the programme will change the face of emergency care in Kenya.
Dr Mwangangi said the rollout is about saving lives and ensuring that no one dies simply because help was not available, while Dr Wachira added that it is an exciting milestone that will require close collaboration with government and partners to make it a success.
