The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Church leaders from Nairobi and Kiambu have called on the government to temporarily reinstate the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) until the ongoing issues with the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) are resolved.
They highlighted the healthcare crisis facing many Kenyans, with numerous patients being turned away from hospitals or forced to pay out-of-pocket due to complications in the SHIF rollout.
In a statement, the leaders from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) demanded the government suspend the implementation of SHIF and reinstate NHIF. They emphasized that the Social Health Authority must resolve technical and logistical problems before SHIF can be fully operational. The NCCK leaders criticized SHIF, claiming that despite higher contributions, it is not delivering the promised healthcare benefits.
The leaders expressed concern over the increasing distress among patients and families who are unable to receive treatment for conditions that should be manageable. “There is growing sorrow as we witness the immense suffering and preventable deaths from treatable conditions,” they stated, adding that the current system is failing to meet the needs of Kenyans. They called for SHIF to be improved so that its benefits are at least on par with those offered under NHIF.
In response, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa urged healthcare providers to continue treating patients, assuring them that any unpaid claims would be addressed. “I urge hospitals not to deny treatment, particularly to those with serious conditions like cancer,” Barasa said. However, many healthcare providers, including dialysis centers and private hospitals, have raised concerns about their participation in SHIF, citing unpaid debts from the previous NHIF system.
President William Ruto defended SHIF, stating that the program aims to expand access to healthcare for disadvantaged families. He acknowledged the challenges during the transition but insisted that they would not derail the program’s implementation. As of October 1, NHIF was officially phased out, with over 14 million Kenyans now enrolled in SHIF.
