Kenyans will not lose their contributions to NHIF as they migrate to SHIF- Ministry

Kenyans will not lose their contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) after migrating to the new Social Health Authority scheme, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Dr Zeinab Gura, the Acting Director of Health Care Services at the Ministry of Health said no one will lose their contributions.

"If you've paid for the full year under NHIF, the remaining amount will be transferred to SHA," she said.

Most of the people who are self-employed or working in the informal sector, she noted, are the ones who clear their annual payments.

"For those in formal employment, the SHA contribution is 2.75 per cent of your gross salary. For those who are not employed, we will assess your household income through a testing tool that will determine one's contribution," she explained.

Dr. Zeinab Gura: Your NHIF Contributions Are Safe. No one will lose their money. If you've already paid your NHIF contribution for the entire year, the remaining amount will be transferred to SHA after you complete your registration," clarified Dr. Zeinab Gura.#JKLive… pic.twitter.com/8o0H66Hpgi

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) September 25, 2024

Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, further explained that the new scheme will explicitly cater to mental health concerns.

"The burden of mental health in this country is huge. On average, we lose four Kenyans every day to suicide and 42 per cent of Kenyans visiting any health facility have mental health signs and symptoms, therefore it is a huge burden of disease and we prioritise mental health as part of the benefits package for SHA," he said.

The scheme will cover the entire spectrum from outpatient consultation, and counseling, inpatient management of different mental health conditions, and also rehabilitation for drug and substance abuse.