Private Hospitals Say They Have No Shif Contracts As Govt Rolls Out New Insurance Scheme
— written by Jack on Oct. 1, 2024, 8:35 a.m.
The rollout of Kenya's new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has faced criticism as private hospitals report a lack of formal contracts with the government.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Brian Lishenga, the Chairperson of the Kenya Rural and Private Hospital Association, stated during a talk show that private healthcare providers were unprepared for the transition to the new health scheme.
Lishenga revealed that despite the government's assurance of readiness, no private healthcare providers had contracts with the Social Health Authority (SHA). He expressed concern over the rushed process, highlighting that private hospitals were scrambling nationwide to secure contracts.
"We are not ready, and as of yesterday, there is no single health provider that I know of with a contract from SHA," Lishenga stated.
The government, however, urged Kenyans to register for the new SHIF to access healthcare services, as the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) would be retired.
Despite the private sector's cooperation, there seemed to be reluctance on the part of the government to finalize contracts in time.
Lishenga further noted that government officers were working under pressure, delivering physical contracts to healthcare providers at the last minute. This rush was indicative of the haste with which the program was being implemented.
The new SHIF aims to replace NHIF, requiring Kenyans to register for the new scheme to receive services from both private and public hospitals. However, concerns remain about the preparedness of the private sector, which may impact the success of the insurance program’s initial rollout.
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