Clinical officers protest against Social Health Authority leadership, demand changes
By Barack Oduor |
The protesters also claimed they had been denied pre-authorisation rights, which they argue prevents them from requesting diagnostic imaging or performing critical medical procedures under the SHA framework.
Clinical officers in Nairobi protested on Thursday against the leadership of the new Social Health Authority (SHA), alleging discrimination against healthcare service providers.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) expressed anger over their exclusion from the implementation of the new health insurance scheme.
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Speaking during the protest, KUCO Secretary General George Gibore said the demonstration was a peaceful effort to oppose what they called discriminatory practices by the SHA Board, which they claim have hindered effective service delivery for Kenyans.
"We must act collectively to protect our profession, defend our rights, and advocate for equitable healthcare access for Kenyans," Gibore stated.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officers’ Secretary-General George Gibore addressing the media on December 5, 2024. Clinical Officer are decrying their exclusion from the implementation of the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
The clinical officers raised concerns about exclusion from the SHA empanelment process, claiming the board has deliberately left out clinical officers and their privately owned facilities from empanelment, contracting, and pre-authorisation procedures under the new scheme.
"This exclusion undermines the professional contributions of clinical officers and threatens the survival of private facilities registered under the Clinical Officers Council," Gibore said.
The protesters also claimed they had been denied pre-authorisation rights, which they argue prevents them from requesting diagnostic imaging or performing critical medical procedures under the SHA framework.
"Our specialists are being denied the right to request diagnostic imaging or conduct crucial medical procedures. This undermines our ability to provide quality care and restricts access to essential health services for patients," the Secretary-General added.
Clinical Officers are decrying their exclusion from the implementation of the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
As the protestors marched towards the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area, they claimed their previous attempts to resolve the matter with relevant authorities, including the Principal Secretary, had been ignored.
Gibore noted that despite their efforts to engage, the government had failed to address their concerns.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) rollout has encountered challenges due to contracting issues and problems at facilities.
The authority’s chairperson, Dr Mohammed Abdi, recently acknowledged these challenges, attributing delays in onboarding facilities to legacy issues from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
"The reason not all facilities are onboarded is due to the contracting issues that NHIF previously faced. It would take two years of back-and-forth negotiations to onboard facilities," Dr Abdi said on October 7.
The clinical officers outside Ministry Of Health Officers. (Justine Ondieki)
Dr Abdi explained that the SHA has begun empanelment through the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), but some newer or standalone facilities may not yet be part of the system due to their lack of affiliation with professional associations.
He added that the SHA has empanelled all facilities previously contracted by NHIF and has communicated the necessary details to ensure a smooth transition.
The new system, launched on October 1, now includes nearly 6,000 facilities. Dr Abdi also addressed misinformation circulating among the public, which he said has caused confusion among patients and healthcare providers.
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