The Social Health Authority (SHA) has assured members of the public of seamless access to services under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover pending the hearing and determination of an injunction filed at the High Court halting the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
In a statement on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, SHA sought to provide clarity on the organizational business continuity frameworks after the High Court ruling stopped several provisions affecting the authority’s operations.
Consequently, SHA assured Kenyans that NHIF services will continue to be availed to all paid-up and eligible members pending the lifting of the Court orders and within the 45-day-stay order period.
The service continuation through NHIF’s existing framework will ensure that there is no gap in health financing.
“We want to reassure you that all NHIF obligations will be honoured as per existing contracts with service providers and Fund members. All preparatory activities necessary to ensure the success of SHA will continue to be undertaken in tandem with the efforts to ensure full compliance with the Court orders,” the statement read in part.
SHA also stated that engagement in such preparatory activities including membership registration, validation of the benefit packages, engagement of health facilities for contracting, and market sensitization, including public education, to facilitate effective public participation, will continue as scheduled.
The authority further announced to the public that SHA’s online registration option is available using a stable and secure self-service online web portal (shkgo.ke) that also integrates into a mobile interface to ensure registration convenience for all through the USSD code the147#.
SHA is the statutory manager of the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHCF), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCF), created to deliver Social Health Insurance (SHI).
This is part of a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) delivery agenda tailored to ensure that all Kenyans have access to quality, affordable and comprehensive quality health services. The Authority covers health promotion, prevention, curative, rehabilitation, and palliative care ensuring no one experiences financial hardship.
SHA is designed to ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all through comprehensive coverage and quality care without financial worry. SHA benefit package is more advanced compared to benefits offered under NHIF (Sups Cover) aimed to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
