Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a stern warning to private hospitals allegedly inflating medical claims under the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, cautioning that the government will take firm action against healthcare fraud.
Speaking during a public engagement in Voi, Taita Taveta County, Duale revealed that some hospitals have been submitting false reports of surgical procedures to fraudulently access SHA funds. He highlighted one case where a facility with only two operating theatres claimed to perform 50 surgeries daily, more than Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which has 25 theatres.
“We have shut down that hospital. The owner, who is a Member of Parliament, came to me and I told him to find another business,” Duale said. “He went to the President, and the President told him clearly that the era of looting NHIF money is over.”
The CS emphasized the government’s resolve to ensure the SHA, which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), operates with integrity and accountability. He called on private health facilities to adhere strictly to the regulations governing claims and service delivery.
Duale announced that 24.4 million Kenyans have so far registered for SHA coverage, including 159,000 residents of Taita Taveta County. To support treatment at the county level, the government has disbursed Ksh 165 million to cover medical services under the new scheme.
Urging citizens to play a role in safeguarding public resources, the CS encouraged the public to report suspicious medical billing or misconduct through the toll-free hotline *147#.
“We will not tolerate corruption in healthcare. Any hospital found cheating the system will face closure and legal action,” Duale stated.
The SHA programme is part of the government’s efforts to deliver affordable, transparent, and universal health coverage across the country.
Written By Rodney Mbua
