Government ready for SHIF roll-out

By Jabali Media

The government is ready to roll out the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from October 1st, with reports indicating that slightly over 1 million have so far registered.

In an engagement with media on the roll out expected in the next 12 days, ministry of health officials said that only 1.2 million Kenyans had registered but were optimistic the numbers would rise before official launch.

Consequently, the ministry and the council of governors are seeking new ways of enticing Kenyans to register, with goodies being proposed as an enticement for those especially in the rural areas to embrace the registration exercise.

Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki who doubles up as chairman of the health committee in the Council of Governors, says Community Health Promoters (CHP) lack the ability to register over 44 million Kenyans still not in the Social Health Authority (SHA) bracket.

He challenged the government to now come up with innovative ideas that will drive a call to action. As the ministry prepares for the roll out, a court case challenging implementation continues to hover around, with a ruling expected on Friday, September 20, 2024.

According to medical services PS Harry Kimutai, the outcome of the case may alter implementation.

“We are banking on a window that allows the government to go back to Parliament in the event the Friday outcome does not go our way,” he said.

County governments have also called on the national government to critically rethink health financing, cautioning that delays in disbursement of funds as has always been the case under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), would cripple SHA.

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa wants Kenyans to focus their energies into registering for SHA, arguing it would be the way out of health problems that have led to numerous harambees.