Faith-based health providers issue 14-day ultimatum to govt over Sh10 billion claims

Kenyans depending on the new national health health insurance scheme, referred to as the Social Health Insurance Scheme may face challenges in accessing health services following fresh ultimatums issued by faith-based hospitals on Thursday.

The facilities issued a 14-day ultimatum for the government to clear their claims; failure to which they will not offer services to patients seeking the services using the Social Health Authority (SHA) and will resort to cash services only.

According to officials of a lobby of the organisation bringing the faith-based together, the government owes them Sh6.8 billion in unpaid claims under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Sh2.15 billion in claims under SHA, and Sh1 billion for MAKL (the Teachers, Police, and Prisons Scheme).

Led by bishops Cleophas Oseso and Norman Wambua of the Diocese of Nakuru and Machakos respectively, the clerics said the

the huge debt has crippled their health facilities, leading to job losses, unpaid vendors, and threats of collapse and closure of the said facilities.

The hospitals also faulted the lengthy process taken to process the SHA claims, citing that it mirrors the past NHIF system.

"Clinical review claims can be stagnant for up to five months or more based on our experience to date, and this is an area that requires much improvement," said Oseso.

Another concern raised by the frustrated clerics includes SHA's insufficient staff to assist county and national hospitals.

They additionally called on additional staff and training sessions to be conducted for the effective implementation of the health scheme.

The faith-based hospitals also jointly advocated for the MAKL scheme to be placed under SHA to improve its financial sustainability.

"The Kenya Faith Based Health Services Providers are issuing a 14-day ultimatum demanding immediate payment of outstanding NHIF, SHA, MAKL debt totalling Sh10 billion, failure to which, we will be forced to suspend offering services to beneficiaries of the said scheme and offer the services to them on a cash payment basis," said Wambua.

In their wide range of demands to the Ministry of Health, they raised the issue of SHA's insufficient staff to assist county and national hospitals. The hospitals called on additional staff and training sessions to be conducted for effective implementation of the scheme.

They additionally demand that the MAKL scheme be placed under SHA to improve its financial sustainability.

Other Topics To Read

• Health
• Social Health Authority
• Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) scheme
• Faith-based health providers issue 14-day ultimatum to govt over Sh10 billion claims
• Headlines