Public officers to access expanded healthcare under new SHA contracts

Thousands of public officers and their dependents are set to access comprehensive healthcare services following the signing of Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF) contracts.

The signing was led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale alongside Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku, marking a key milestone in strengthening healthcare access for public servants under the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.

The contracts were signed between the Social Health Authority (SHA) and contracted healthcare providers drawn from private and faith-based facilities across Levels 3 to 6.

The agreements establish a structured framework for service delivery, reimbursement and accountability to ensure efficient access to healthcare services for beneficiaries.

Under the new scheme, public officers and their dependents will be entitled to a wide range of services, including outpatient and inpatient care, specialised surgeries, cancer treatment, dialysis, dental and optical care, reproductive health services such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and selected overseas referrals where necessary.

The government has cautioned healthcare providers against imposing unauthorised co-payments, warning that any facility found violating the agreed terms will face sanctions, including suspension from the scheme and mandatory refunds to affected patients.

The Health CS said the government had locked the agreed tariffs into the SHA system to eliminate arbitrary billing practices and address concerns that had emerged during the transition to the new health financing framework.

"We have successfully engaged healthcare providers, negotiated fair and sustainable tariffs, signed contracts and are now officially locking these agreed tariffs into the system for full implementation," said Duale.

The event also marked the launch of SHA biometric registration for dependents aged 7 to 17 years. According to the Ministry of Health, the exercise will strengthen patient identification, improve access to health records, enhance data security and support efficient service delivery across healthcare facilities.

The signing of the POMSF Implementation Charter and adoption of the negotiated tariffs paves the way for full implementation of the scheme, with the government expressing confidence that the reforms will improve healthcare access, accountability and efficiency for public officers and their families.