NHIF Funds To Be Transferred To SHA.
The Public Health and Sanitation Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, has assured Kenyans of the safety of funds contributed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIF) as the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) takes shape.
She stated that the funds are secure and will be carried forward into the new scheme, ensuring that no patients will be turned away from health facilities during the transition.
The government targets to have all Kenyans on board to ensure the success of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) coverage. The new scheme guarantees free medical care at all level two and level three health facilities, and registration is key to enabling access to treatment at levels 4,5 and 6.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has trained Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to assist members of the public in registering for the new scheme.
National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) have been tasked to sensitise and mobilise the public to register ahead of the official launch of the scheme, which was rolled out on October 1st.
The Public Health and Sanitation Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, said the Ministry of Health has developed a database of all health facilities across the country to ensure seamless rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The exercise carried out by the Digital Health Agency, she said, will see a patient’s history accessed at any health facility without necessarily carrying books or being asked to give the information again by health personnel.
“If you are referred from Kisumu to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), you will not have to repeat your history. Sometimes health matters make us shy, and it is unfair to keep narrating every time you visit a health facility,” she said.