Mwaura, who addressed journalists at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) revealed that two million Kenyans have so far registered under the new SHA cover.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura on Wednesday, September 25 assured Kenyans that the registration for the new medical insurance scheme under the Social Health Authority (SHA) will be an ongoing process, dispelling rumours of consequences for not registering for SHA by October 1, 2024.
Mwaura, who addressed journalists at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) revealed that two million Kenyans have so far registered under the new SHA cover.
Though he urged Kenyans to register for the new cover to enjoy the benefits of its improved provisions, the spokesperson’s remarks appeared to point towards a voluntary decision for Kenyans to register for the scheme other than arm-twisting them to join the registration drive before the deadline, which has seen the Act forced to deal with legal challenges.
“We have 2 million people so far. It’s an ongoing target so we are not stopping registration. We are about 55 million people because we give birth to about a million kids every year if you look at the trend from the 2009-2019 census.
A logo of the Social Health Authority. /FILE
“This is just an ongoing process and we call upon you to help cascade this information to the ground so that people can understand what SHA means,” Mwaura told journalists.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Health compelled all employers in the country to ensure that all their employees are registered with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), noting that the current health insurance scheme, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will cease to function on September 30, 2024, as all health insurance will be transitioned to SHIF.
Employers were directed to update their systems so that employees’ insurance proceeds would be submitted to the new scheme on the employers’ portal. However, this directive sparked uproar amongst Kenyans who then went on to discover the disparities between the benefits in SHIF compared to what they have to part with from their salaries every month, contributions of 2.75 per cent of their gross income depending on how much they earn, to be specific, something Mwaura revealed that it was not the case.
However, Mwaura on Thursday, September 5 did compel civil servants to register for SHIF, in response to the slow uptake of the new health scheme, despite weeks of public sensitisation. For those in informal sectors, they will contribute based on means testing.
“On the issue of priority, yes first come first serve because if you’re the first to register, why shouldn’t you be also the first to benefit? So we are calling upon Kenyans to register themselves so that they can benefit without going through these other issues,” Mwaura rallied Kenyans.
Regarding replacing NHIF with SHA, Mwaura, while responding to public concerns about the new health model, pointed out what he stated is NHIF’s shortcomings, but explained how the new model will address those challenges.
“Sustainable financing has been a challenge under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which primarily relies on contributions from employed individuals. This focus has hindered broader health financing, which is essential for providing equitable healthcare services to all Kenyans.
“To address the challenges, the government established the Social Health Authority (SHA). The SHA aims to include all adult Kenyans in contributing to a sustainable fund that covers a wider range of health services,” Mwaura said.
SHA, according to Mwaura, will also ensure that every citizen accesses healthcare. Comparing it to NHIF which mostly required additional community fundraising efforts, he noted that SHA ensures that every citizen can access quality healthcare through enhanced government financing.
“These are possible through the newly introduced legal frameworks aimed at facilitating the transition to Universal Health Care. The framework includes the Primary Healthcare Act, the Social Health Insurance Act, and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Act,” he continued.
The Primary Health Care Fund, the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund, both of which will be publicly financed, and the SHIF to be financed through individual contributions are also the three thematic frameworks that will be created.
Mwaura termed the shift from NHIF to SHA as one that aims to provide comprehensive, quality, and equitable healthcare for all Kenyans, including those in the informal employment sector. He added that through the engagement of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), SHA envisions a system in which preventive and promotive healthcare services work towards early diagnosis and treatment, further lessening the disease burden.
