State threatens to blacklist medical facilities failing to implement SHIF system

The government has warned medical facilities against denying services to Kenyans registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), cautioning that they risk being blacklisted.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai has accused these facilities of deliberately avoiding the system and demanding cash payments from financially vulnerable Kenyans.

Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, PS Kimtai stated that approximately 50 per cent of the facilities are intentionally refusing to use the system, further warning that they risk facing consequences for their actions.

“There are those who are giving us excuses that the system is not working properly—some very flimsy excuses. But now we want to publish them as the ones who have been contracted so that if a Kenyan goes there and is asked for cash upfront, he will tell us the one who is demanding cash upfront, and we will take action against that particular facility,” Kimtai said.

He noted that some facilities choose not to utilise the system, even though it is operational. “A case in point is that for dialysis patients, they use the system; for other patients, they don’t,” Kimtai said.

The new healthcare system has continuously been met with public outcry since its rollout three weeks ago, as patients are forced to pay out of pocket despite previously being covered by the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

This sudden shift has raised concerns among Kenyans who rely on the system for accessible healthcare. The situation has prompted widespread criticism and calls for the government to address the emerging challenges associated with the new provision.

To address the situation, 47 county technical steering committees have been established to visit over 7,000 health facilities registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Taita Taveta County Commissioner Josephine Onunga said the campaign will be led by County Commissioners and County Health Executive Committee Members (CECMs) to ensure the smooth implementation of the new system in the counties.

“We are also involving faith-based organisations in every county so that everyone can see how this rollout is progressing in each unit,” he said.

Acting SHA CEO Elijah Wachira said the first problem which was a technical issue was fixed immediately. "The second problem is people learning to use the equipment, which is why we are going hospital by hospital training doctors and nurses on how to use this new equipment, which is better than what we used before.”

On Sunday, President William Ruto urged private hospitals to finalise their enrollment with the SHA. He expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the new health scheme, emphasising its crucial role in achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kenya.

He noted that the government has released Sh1.5 billion owed to health facilities and another Sh3 billion is set to be disbursed, with pending bills expected to be settled within 90 days in the future.

Ruto highlighted that the SHIF will fundamentally enhance healthcare delivery, allowing all Kenyans access to both preventive and curative services.

"Through the SHIF, citizens will contribute and access comprehensive healthcare benefits. The value for money in this scheme will be undeniable once the migration from the NHIF is completed and the fund is fully operational,” he said.