The Social Health Authority (SHA) has launched an improved biometric identification and verification system aimed at enhancing efficiency and eliminating fraud in the healthcare sector.
Speaking on Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale announced that the upgraded system will securely link patients and hospital staff to the SHA claims processing platform, ensuring faster, accurate, and corruption-free delivery of health services.
“We are introducing a better identification and verification system that links patients and hospital staff securely to the SHA claims processing system for faster, fraud-free and accurate service delivery,” Duale stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The biometric system builds upon previous technology used under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which relied on fingerprint scans to authenticate patient identities and enable instant access to medical services. While the system initially reduced delays in service delivery, it became vulnerable to abuse, with dishonest healthcare providers reportedly using stored fingerprints to file claims on behalf of non-existent or ineligible beneficiaries.
The SHA’s revamped system incorporates advanced safeguards to prevent such fraud, and is expected to play a key role in improving public trust in the country’s healthcare financing model. The new biometric platform will be rolled out in phases across public and private healthcare institutions nationwide.
The launch comes amid broader reforms under the SHA, which replaced NHIF as part of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda. Authorities hope the technology-driven reforms will ensure that healthcare funding is used effectively and reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Written By Rodney Mbua
