'Crack the whip': Bunge La Wananchi demands action on SHA fraud

Members of the Bunge La Wananchi, a civic public engagement group, have asked Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to promptly weed out corruption from the national hospital insurance scheme.

The members of the group who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice expressed their displeasure with the current revelations of a section of health facilities across the country irregularly benefiting from the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Philip Alambo, a member of the group, said failure by the Ministry of Health to decisively deal with corruption that has gripped the scheme could thwart public confidence in it.

"Duale has no alternative but to crack the whip on those health facilities defrauding the national hospital insurance scheme. Their proprietors should be arrested and charged because that's the only way to restore public confidence in their work," said Alambo.

Alambo, who spoke after the grouping briefly ended a session on the scandal that has now gripped SHA, was backed by Kevin Vogo, who said that the ministry must meticulously verify claims before payments are made to hospitals.

"What's happening today is the reason why NHIF was abandoned. Sadly, we're back to old ways of doing things where criminals were siphoning public funds through fictitious claims," Vogo said.

According to Vogo, transparency in the national hospital insurance scheme should go to the extent of having patients involved before any payments are effected.

"What's so difficult in involving patients before making payments for any claim made? It should go to an extent of having images, signatures, and even having phone calls with those treated," suggested Vogo.

Bunge La Wananchi lauded the decision of the Social Health Authority to suspend several health facilities across various counties, temporarily cutting them off from accessing the national social health scheme.

The announcement was made through a gazette notice issued on Tuesday by the SHA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mercy Mwangangi.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 48 (6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, the Social Health Authority hereby gives notice to the public of the suspension of the health facilities set out in the Schedule below," the notice stated.

The affected facilities are spread across multiple counties, with Mandera registering the highest number at 10.

Others include Wajir (two facilities), Kisumu (three), Narok (one), Turkana (one), Garissa (three), Kakamega (two), Homa Bay (six), Bungoma (two), Kisii (seven), Meru (one), Kirinyaga (one), Busia (one), Migori (one), Nandi (one), Kajiado (one), Nairobi (one), and Uasin Gishu (one).

Recently, some reports alleged that SHA had removed from its website a comprehensive list of payments made to hospitals, raising public concern about accountability.

Other Topics To Read

• Health
• Social Health Authority
• Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) scheme
• Bunge La Wananchi
• SHA fraud
• 'Crack the whip': Bunge La Wananchi demands action on SHA fraud
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In an official statement shared on social media, SHA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and directed the public to access the payment list via its website.