MPs pledge to raise cancer treatment cover to Sh1 million amid concerns over inadequate SHA funding
The legislators admitted that the current allocation is inadequate given the high cost of cancer treatment in the country.
Following a petition by the Kenya Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO) highlighting the financial and systemic hurdles faced by cancer patients, Members of Parliament have pledged to push for an increase in the cancer treatment package under the Social Health Authority (SHA) from Sh400,000 to at least Sh1 million.
The legislators admitted that the current allocation is inadequate, given the high cost of cancer treatment in the country.
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The petition, presented to the National Assembly by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei, called on Parliament to intervene and ensure the enhancement of oncology benefits as well as adequate allocation of funds to the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
KENCO, which represents more than 70 civil society groups and thousands of cancer patients, raised concerns over inadequate cancer financing, bureaucratic delays, poor communication and lack of transparency in the management of SHA funds.
“The organisation is seeking to highlight systemic failures experienced through the Social Health Authority (SHA), and to call for urgent reforms in cancer care financing. Various challenges have been encountered by cancer patients through SHA in the following ways: reduced and inadequate cancer benefit packages, bureaucratic delays and system failures, poor communication and lack of transparency, service suspensions due to pending bills, overseas treatment policy changes, underfunding of SHA funds and emotional and mental strain,” reads the petition.
The organisation cited the reduction of the cancer benefit package from Sh600,000 per individual under the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to Sh400,000 per household under SHA as a major setback for families battling cancer.
The petitioners also decried frequent service suspensions due to unpaid bills, policy changes on overseas treatment and underfunding of critical health funds.
According to KENCO, universal and fair health coverage remains far from reach for many cancer patients unless urgent reforms are implemented. The group warned that without immediate intervention, patients will continue to endure needless delays, overwhelming costs and avoidable deaths.
“We call on this House to commission an independent audit of SHA funds, review benefit structures, create reforms for fairness and sustainability in cancer care financing and ensure adequate allocation of funds to the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund,” the petition added.
Deputy Speaker Boss committed the petition to the Departmental Committee on Health for investigation and recommendations, noting that the Committee is already handling similar issues raised by patients and stakeholders in the health sector.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah supported the petition, pledging Parliament’s commitment to ensuring adequate resources are allocated to SHA to enhance cancer treatment coverage.
“I want to agree with the petitioners—the package as we have today may look generous, but the cost of cancer treatment is very expensive, not just in this country but around the world. Therefore, we must do all we can to support cancer patients so that the packages can be enhanced from the current Sh400,000 to Sh1 million,” Ichung’wah said.
He noted that although Parliament has allocated funds to the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Critical and Emergency Illnesses Fund in recent budgets, the areas still require additional financing.
“As a House that allocates funds to SHA, the Ministry of Health and other health facilities, we must help the ministry allocate more resources to the critical and emergencies fund,” he said.
Health Committee Chairperson and Seme MP James Nyikal said the committee will assess the petition comprehensively to address the broader issue of high cancer treatment costs and disparities in care.
“There is a discrepancy between the benefit tariff for cancer and the cost of cancer treatment in the country. The cost of cancer in the country is higher than the tariff,” Nyikal said.
“We will report back to this House about cancer treatment and some of the SHA issues and healthcare issues in the country.”
Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu supported the petition, assuring KENCO that Parliament, as the budget-making organ, will back efforts to strengthen cancer care financing.
The Health Committee is expected to conduct a full inquiry into all matters raised and table its report before the House and the petitioners within 60 days.
The report will include policy and legislative recommendations to improve cancer treatment financing and ensure fair, sustainable access to care for patients nationwide.
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