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The government has officially introduced biometric registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to improve the accuracy of patient identification and streamline healthcare access across the country.
During the launch at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that biometric registration is now fully implemented at all Level 4, 5, and 6 healthcare facilities nationwide.
“Effective immediately, SHA will no longer accept OTP-based authorization,” Duale stated.
“All approvals must now be made using the biometric health ID or the Practice 360 App,” he added.
Duale also shared that the Ministry of Health is working to integrate Level 2 and 3 facilities into the SHA system as part of ongoing efforts to digitize healthcare services at all levels.
To support this transition, the government has introduced the Practice 360 App, a geo-tagged and geo-fenced tool aimed at preventing fraud and unauthorized sharing of codes among medical practitioners.
“This app will help eliminate the unauthorized sharing of pre-authorization approval codes by doctors,” Duale explained. “Healthcare workers can now use the Practice 360 App to view, approve, and manage pre-authorization claims and services directly.”
Since its launch, SHA has achieved significant progress. More than 25.1 million Kenyans have been registered, and nearly 10,000 hospitals, clinics, and health centers have joined the program.
The Authority has reimbursed Sh47.5 billion through the Social Health Insurance Fund and Sh6.9 billion via the Primary Healthcare Fund.
Duale revealed that Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the country, has submitted claims worth Sh1.4 billion and received over Sh1 billion in payments.
“This demonstrates that our public, private, and faith-based healthcare facilities are seeing value from their investment in the healthcare system,” Duale said.
To ensure widespread access, SHA biometric registration can be completed via multiple channels. Individuals can register by dialing *147# on their phones, visiting the SHA website, or taking part in in-person registration drives across the country.
The system will rely on biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition for verification.
