The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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On Wednesday, tensions erupted at Afya House when frustrated patients, some with infants, interrupted a Ministry of Health press briefing to protest ongoing issues with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) system.
The protest occurred amid reports of numerous patients being stranded at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) due to system malfunctions.
The briefing, intended to update the public on the progress of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), was led by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and Director General of Health Patrick Amoth. However, it was disrupted as patients—some claiming they had walked from KNH to Afya House—demanded answers about the ongoing problems since the government transitioned from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHIF in October 2024.
“We walked all the way from Kenyatta Hospital to SHIF offices, but nothing has been done to help us,” one patient said, speaking in front of surprised officials.
Frustrated, some of the patients, who managed to enter Afya House, shared their struggles, accusing officials of ignoring their concerns.
“We’ve visited NHIF, the ICT department, and other offices, but no one is offering assistance,” another patient said. “They just send us in circles, knowing there are no solutions at the places they refer us to.”
Among the protesters was a mother of a 3-day-old baby who had undergone a caesarean section and couldn’t leave the hospital due to unresolved billing issues.
“This system is failing us,” she said, visibly distressed. “We demand to know the truth about SHIF and why it’s causing so much suffering.”
During the disrupted briefing, Director General Patrick Amoth shared that over 7,900 facilities had signed manual contracts with SHIF, while 2,602 had completed electronic contracting, and 1,753 were still in the process of transitioning.
Amoth acknowledged the delays in reimbursements for facilities with incomplete data and urged institutions to address these issues to improve service delivery.
The transition from NHIF to SHIF has been marred by difficulties. On December 4, CS Barasa faced tough questions from Members of Parliament about the confusion surrounding SHIF’s implementation.
At an informal meeting with lawmakers, concerns were raised about how the ongoing issues were limiting Kenyans’ access to healthcare.
CS Barasa admitted that the “teething problems” had cast doubt on SHIF’s ability to deliver Universal Health Coverage, a key government initiative. However, she defended the system, highlighting its potential to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all, especially in underserved areas.
“There are many patients who are forced to return home without treatment because they can’t afford it,” the CS said. “I urge everyone to focus on the bigger picture: achieving affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare for all Kenyans.”
Barasa also urged lawmakers to support public outreach and registration efforts, calling SHIF the “magic wand” to streamline Kenya’s healthcare system, particularly in times of fiscal constraints.
Despite a Ministry of Health directive ensuring uninterrupted service for SHIF members, the system’s rollout continues to face significant challenges.
