By Eddah Waithaka
On Monday 18th, KELIN and FIDA-Kenya, advocates for health and women’s rights, are calling on the government to address the growing challenges of the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
In a statement to the press, the advocates highlighted that the ongoing shift has exposed glaring systemic gaps. “While Article 43 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees every person the right to health, including reproductive health, the ongoing shift has exposed glaring systemic gaps that negatively affect access to equitable and affordable care for many Kenyans.”
“The rollout of SHIF has been plagued by confusion, lack of public awareness, and
inadequate health system preparedness. Many Kenyans remain uninformed about
changes to healthcare access, with facilities refusing to offer services, patients detained
over bills, and chronic illness treatments disrupted. These issues disproportionately
impact vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities, minorities, and
those living in poverty,” read their statement.
According to the advocates, these issues affect vulnerable populations, especially persons with disabilities, minorities and those living in poverty. Therefore, they urged the government to take measures to ensure seamless access to health care.
“We urge the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to prioritize
the development of clear operational guidelines and communication strategies to ensure seamless access to healthcare. Public sensitization campaigns targeting
healthcare professionals, facilities, and the public are critical for restoring trust and
transparency. Pending NHIF claims must be swiftly settled to enable facilities to operate and transition smoothly. This will prevent further out-of-pocket expenses that have left many Kenyans in financial distress,” said the Deputy Executive Director of KELIN Kenya, Hortense Minishi.
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In addition, the two organizations emphasized the need for urgent clarity on critical programs such as Linda Mama and EduAfya, as well as HIV care services, which have been inadequately addressed under the new system.
“Inclusive systems must be implemented to ensure no one is left behind. Meanwhile, the SHA should operationalize feedback mechanisms and reimbursement systems for patients forced to make out-of-pocket payments since October,” added Minishi.
According to both organizations, it is also essential to address staffing gaps within the SHA and to establish the Social Health Insurance Dispute Resolution Tribunal to resolve grievances effectively.
Further, the advocates suggested that the transition to SHIF must be consistent with the principles of universal health coverage by reducing financial barriers, ensuring adequate resources, and protecting the rights of the most vulnerable.
“We call on the Ministry of Health to act swiftly to resolve these critical issues and reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to the constitutional right to health. We believe in a society where every person is treated with dignity and respect as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The current transitions fall short of this dignity for the people they are meant to serve and we therefore urge the Ministry of Health to take swift action in addressing these critical concerns.”
