Ministry of Health urges 4.3 million Kenyans to update profiles for SHA registration
In a statement, Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General of the Ministry of Health, expressed concern that only 18.8 million Kenyans are enrolled on SHA.
The Ministry of Health is urging 4.3 million Kenyans to update their profiles with the Social Health Authority (SHA) after their records were transitioned from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The ministry stressed that updating these profiles is crucial for ensuring accurate eligibility status, which will facilitate seamless access to healthcare services when needed.
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In a statement, Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General of the Ministry of Health, expressed concern that only 18.8 million Kenyans are enrolled on SHA.
"4.3 million individuals who were migrated from NHIF have not updated their profiles, which is affecting their eligibility for services under SHA. We encourage all registered members to complete their profile updates to guarantee smooth access to healthcare services," he said.
The Ministry of Health also noted a significant drop in SHA registration over the weekends, with only 26,000 people signing up compared to 75,000 on weekdays.
Dr. Amoth highlighted the need to encourage proactive registration beyond healthcare visits. "We need to motivate people to register for SHA at their convenience."
As of now,3.1 million Kenyans have undergone means testing, which is required to determine the premium they should pay for SHA coverage.
However, Dr. Amoth expressed concern that many individuals have not completed this process, which means they can only access primary healthcare and emergency services, rather than benefiting from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) or the Chronic and Critical Care Fund.
"Without means testing, many people will only have access to primary healthcare and emergency services, which limits their access to the full benefits of SHA," he explained.
While SHA registration is highest in counties like Mombasa, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Bomet, it remains low in areas such as Turkana, West Pokot, Garissa, and Samburu.
The Ministry of Health plans to collaborate further with county governments and community stakeholders to boost registration efforts in these underserved areas.
The Health Provider Portal now has 8,813 health facilities enrolled, representing 56 per cent of active facilities in Kenya. However, lower registration rates have been observed in dispensaries and health centres, which traditionally relied on manual documentation.
To address these challenges, the Ministry has deployed teams to provide on-site assistance in counties. Since SHA's rollout on October 1, 2024, over 1 million people have accessed primary healthcare services.
Claims totalling Sh18.0 billion have been submitted, with government-owned facilities submitting Sh5.8 billion.
Dr. Amoth reported a significant improvement in pre-authorisation processing times, which have decreased from 526 minutes in December 2024 to just 76 minutes. The ministry continues to focus on improving system efficiency.
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