Over 100 facilities accredited by SHA to provide cancer care after protests
As of November 2025, the CS noted that 27.2 million Kenyans had successfully registered under SHA, representing more than half of the country’s population. Since the rollout of the scheme in October 2024, contributions amounting to Sh8.13 billion have been collected.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has accredited 140 healthcare facilities across the public, private, and faith-based sectors to deliver comprehensive cancer care services nationwide, following efforts to expand access to quality treatment for patients.
Appearing before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Health CS Aden Duale stated that 33,101 patients have received care under the SHA’s cancer benefit package so far.
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According to the CS, the package supports patients through every stage from diagnosis and staging to treatment and follow-up care.
“Patients have access to a full range of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and palliative care, all tailored to individual needs. The programme also covers essential medical supplies and equipment, such as consumables, chemo pumps and related medication,” he said.
He also explained that SHA has enhanced coverage by removing limits on treatment cycles within the annual benefit cap, ensuring fairness and flexibility.
He noted that through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), SHA has settled Sh5.8 billion in cancer-related claims, with an additional Sh774 million currently being processed and set for payment by November 14, 2025.
“The SHA offers a comprehensive cancer care package that supports patients through every stage from diagnosis and staging to treatment and follow-up care. Patients have access to a full range of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and palliative care, all tailored to individual needs. The programme also covers essential medical supplies and equipment, such as consumables, chemo pumps and related medication,” he said.
He further highlighted that SHA has requested the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) to increase the oncology package limit to Sh1 million per beneficiary, up from the current Sh550,000, jointly financed by SHIF (Sh400,000) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) (Sh150,000).
As of November 2025, the CS noted that 27.2 million Kenyans had successfully registered under SHA, representing more than half of the country’s population. Since the rollout of the scheme in October 2024, contributions amounting to Sh8.13 billion have been collected.
Currently, 10,540 health facilities, public, private, and faith-based, are contracted by SHA to provide services across the country. So far, 7.7 million Kenyans have accessed healthcare services through the Primary Health Care Fund and other SHA-supported programmes.
Duale further commended Kenya’s continued progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), noting a 41 per cent reduction in incidence and a 65 per cent decline in mortality towards the 2025 End TB targets.
“Drug-resistant TB cases have reduced by 48 per cent since 2015, resulting in Kenya’s removal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) high-burden countries list in 2020,” he said.
The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to clearing all pending bills owed to health facilities under the former NHIF, with the first repayment of Sh5.3 billion prioritising hospitals owed between Sh1 million and Sh10 million.
Duale also responded to questions on the SHA and Linda Jamii schemes, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making quality healthcare affordable and accessible for all Kenyans under Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Last month, cancer patients staged a protest outside the Social Health Authority headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, demanding an increase in insurance coverage for treatment.
The protesters accused the government of turning a blind eye to their struggles, arguing that the current allocation by SHA falls far short of the actual cost of managing the disease.
SHA was previously providing Sh400,000 per patient annually for cancer treatment, a figure patients said is insufficient to meet the high cost of care.
They urged the government to reform SHA and ensure it fully covers all essential cancer treatment services, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and medication.
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