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The Social Health Authority (SHA) has addressed the initial technical challenges that arose following its launch.
SHA, which replaced the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), was recently implemented as part of the government’s healthcare reforms. The goal of SHA is to improve access to healthcare across the country, providing more inclusive coverage for Kenyans.
Hon. Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Health has confirmed the efforts to stabilize the system. “The initial technical issues are being resolved to ensure smooth service delivery,” she said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to delivering an improved healthcare system for all citizens.
The transition from NHIF to SHA was a significant shift, involving the transfer of millions of records and data processing for new policies.
Despite the extensive preparations, the system faced initial disruptions, with users experiencing slow access to services and challenges in updating their details on the platform.
According to Cs Deborah Barasa, these issues were anticipated to some extent, given the complexity of the nationwide health insurance system overhaul.
The Cabinet Secretary reassured the public that resolving these issues is a priority and that the government has deployed additional resources to enhance the system’s performance. This includes deploying a team of IT experts and health professionals who are working around the clock to improve service delivery.
The introduction of SHA is one of the key pillars in the GoK’s ongoing efforts to provide universal healthcare. Under this new framework, SHA will offer a more streamlined, inclusive healthcare financing model designed to cover a wide range of medical services, benefiting millions of residents, including those previously underserved by NHIF.
As technical issues are gradually resolved, the Health Ministry is optimistic that SHA will fulfill its promise of efficient and affordable healthcare, building a foundation for healthier communities across the nation.
