91,000 Kenyans sign up for SHIF in 1 day amid patient struggles, govt says

The government has reported a significant increase in daily registrations for the Social Health Authority (SHA), with 91,000 Kenyans signing up in a single day, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Medical Services Harry Kimtai has revealed.

Speaking on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Pullman Hotel, Upper Hill, Kimtai noted that a total of 13.34 million Kenyans are now registered under the SHA, which includes both former members of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and new enrollees.

He emphasised that the transition from NHIF to SHA is proceeding smoothly, ensuring uninterrupted access to healthcare services for millions of Kenyans.

“As of today, 13.34 million Kenyans have registered under SHA, including former NHIF members and new registrants,” Kimtai said, adding that the goal is to have the entire population registered by December 2024.

The SHA replaces the NHIF and provides Kenyans with access to medical treatment at public, private, and faith-based healthcare facilities, maintaining uniform service costs across all sectors.

“Whether you visit a private, public, or faith-based hospital, the services and claims will be the same. SHA ensures equality in healthcare access,” Kimtai said.

He reassured the public that former NHIF members have been automatically transitioned into the SHA system, with their premiums carried over to prevent any loss of coverage.

“All NHIF members have been smoothly moved to SHA, and none have reported service disruptions. Their premiums were transferred without any issue,” he said.

The Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters in Nairobi. (Photo: SHA)

To further enhance registration efforts, the government is mobilising community health promoters to assist in reaching households that lack access to mobile phones.

Individuals have been urged to register through the USSD code *147# or via the official SHA website.

Kimtai highlighted the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in the registration process, noting that it will ensure comprehensive coverage across all demographics.

“The multi-sectoral approach we have adopted, involving county commissioners and health officials, will help ensure that every Kenyan is registered for SHA and able to access healthcare services,” he said.

With the SHA rollout gaining traction, Kimtai urged Kenyans to take advantage of the registration process, assuring them that they can continue to access healthcare services without fear of denial.

Despite the government's report of a surge in registrations, terminally ill patients are reportedly struggling to receive lifesaving treatment as hospitals demand cash due to challenges with the new health system.

Patients—primarily those suffering from chronic kidney disease—have pleaded with the government to revert to the NHIF system to alleviate their suffering.

Healthcare workers in the Coast region recently called for an immediate halt to the health insurance scheme, arguing that it has failed to deliver on its promises and is leaving both medical professionals and patients in difficult situations.

The medics argued that the SHA-contracted healthcare providers have largely declined to implement the SHIF, forcing patients to pay out of pocket for services that were supposed to be covered.

They claimed the scheme is ineffective and faces broad rejection from healthcare facilities.