The Ministry of Health is requesting an additional Ksh.6 billion in the supplementary budget to strengthen the primary health care fund and the emergency and chronic illness fund under the Social Health Authority (SHA). This move aims to enhance healthcare services across the country and ensure better medical coverage for registered members.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee on Thursday, defended the ministry’s budget allocations and emphasized the need for increased funding. He noted that SHA benefits are continuously revised based on available funds. A recent gazette notice has been submitted to increase oncology benefits from Ksh.400,000 to Ksh.550,000.
“When you have paid your premiums, whether at level 4, 5, or 6 hospitals and are receiving cancer treatment, the benefit package you are entitled to is Ksh.550,000, up from the previously published Ksh.400,000,” Kimtai stated.
So far, SHA has registered 20.2 million Kenyans, reinforcing the need for an additional Ksh.3 billion to support primary healthcare in level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals, where services remain free for all registered members. Kimtai clarified that primary healthcare services are not restricted to public facilities but also extend to faith-based and private hospitals contracted under SHA.
However, concerns have been raised about the transparency of SHA payments to healthcare providers. Health Committee Vice Chair Patrick Munene noted that some providers are unable to track payments, unlike under the previous NHIF system.
SHA Acting CEO Robert Ngasira assured the committee that the authority would publish details of payments made to healthcare providers. “We have agreed that we will publish the amounts paid to healthcare facilities, allowing the public and other stakeholders to track expenditures,” he said.
Kimtai also acknowledged the challenges SHA has faced since its inception and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to addressing them. He added that all benefit packages under SHA would be revised upwards as funds allow.
Meanwhile, concerns were raised about delays in fund disbursement by the Treasury, with committee members urging timely allocation to ensure efficient healthcare service delivery nationwide.
