Big Relief Coming! SHA Promises to Pay All Healthcare Facilities in 3 Weeks Amid Growing Crisis

Kenyans may soon breathe a sigh of relief as the Social Health Authority (SHA) has officially announced that all outstanding payments to healthcare facilities will be cleared within the next three weeks. This move is expected to bring hope to many hospitals struggling under financial pressure. 

SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi, speaking on Tuesday, July 22, said that the authority is working day and night to complete the review of all health service claims made by July 1. Over 9,000 healthcare facilities had submitted claims under the national health insurance system. 

So far, the SHA has already finalized and disbursed funds for the primary healthcare fund and the maternity package. Payments for these categories were released on the same day, July 22. Mwangangi confirmed that more reviews are underway for other services. 

The next payments will cover inpatient care, surgeries, and other specialized treatments. These are now being reviewed for compliance with SHA rules and regulations, especially under Social Health Insurance Regulations 59 and 61. 

Mwangangi noted that Ksh3 billion has already been paid out. This covered services like emergency care, cancer treatments (oncology), blood-related illnesses (haematology), and kidney care (renal services). 

However, this announcement comes after weeks of complaints from hospitals. Many facilities said they were struggling to operate due to the slow payment process. Some hospitals were on the verge of shutting down, while others were already in serious debt. 

The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) recently conducted a study that painted a grim picture. It revealed that only 20% of the health centers contracted under SHA’s Primary Health Care (PHC) model received full monthly payments. 

The Ministry of Health also released shocking statistics. Out of the 9,365 facilities contracted under SHA, 5,219 are public, 3,650 are private, and 496 are faith-based institutions. Many of them are feeling the heat of delayed payments. 

RUPHA explained that 36% of these facilities had taken loans to stay open. Sadly, 30% are at risk of not paying back those loans. Even worse, 13% are close to being auctioned, 9% are facing court cases from unpaid suppliers, and 1% have already closed down. 

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also gave an update on SHA’s coverage. According to him, over 24 million Kenyans have now signed up for the insurance plan. 

Out of these, 4.5 million have already received treatment for common illnesses and maternity care. An additional 2.2 million Kenyans have been treated for more complex medical needs under the scheme. 

Duale said the government is committed to fixing all challenges around the SHA to ensure that healthcare is not only available but also affordable for every Kenyan. 

Healthcare workers and hospital managers hope this promise by SHA will finally be fulfilled. For many, this is not just about money, it’s about saving lives. Some hospitals had already started turning away patients due to lack of drugs and staff. 

The three-week timeline is now a critical countdown for the country. If the payments are made on time, it will restore faith in the health insurance system and help many facilities bounce back. 

SHA’s efforts to clean up and verify claims are seen as necessary, but many believe they should be quicker in handling payments. After all, delays in healthcare financing can be deadly. 

Meanwhile, Kenyans continue to seek treatment through the system with hope that better days are coming. With over 24 million already registered, the system’s success or failure will affect millions of families across the country. 

If the authority delivers on its promise, it will mark a turning point for the national health insurance system. It will also give confidence to healthcare workers who have been struggling to keep their services running. 

As the countdown begins, all eyes are now on SHA to see if this promise will finally be fulfilled.