By Kamadi Amata

The Government has announced its readiness to roll out the Social Health Insurance (SHA) on October 1st, despite the low registration numbers so far.

During a media briefing, Ministry of Health officials revealed that only 1.2 million Kenyans had registered for the scheme. However, they remain optimistic that the numbers will increase before the official launch.

To boost registration, especially in rural areas, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Council of Governors, is considering incentives to encourage more Kenyans to sign up. Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who chairs the Council of Governors Health Committee, highlighted that the use of Community Health Promoters alone will not be sufficient to reach the 44 million Kenyans still outside the SHA bracket. He called on the government to explore more innovative strategies to drive mass registration.

While the Ministry is moving forward with SHA preparations, a potential legal hurdle looms as a court case challenging the implementation is set for ruling on Friday, September 20th. Medical Services PS Harry Kimutai acknowledged that the ruling could affect the rollout but indicated that the government would seek parliamentary intervention if the ruling is unfavorable.

Public Health PS Mary Muthoni emphasized that Community Health Promoters, a key element of SHA, will focus on a preventive healthcare approach, which is expected to aid in boosting registrations.

County governments, meanwhile, are urging the National Government to address health financing issues. They warned that delays in fund disbursement, similar to those experienced with NHIF, could undermine the SHA program.

Dr. Daniel Mwai, the President’s advisor on health financing, stated that the implementation of SHA would reduce the reliance on informal fundraising through WhatsApp groups, a common practice for Kenyans dealing with medical expenses.

Director General Patrick Amoth added that SHA would also provide provisions for Kenyans seeking treatment abroad, with negotiated rates to make healthcare more affordable.

Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo Barasa urged Kenyans to prioritize registering for SHA, stating that it would provide a sustainable solution to the health challenges that have led to numerous fundraising efforts (harambees).