Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged Nairobi residents to register with the new health insurance model, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), as the country transitions from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Addressing the media after launching the newly refurbished Mbagathi Hospital, Sakaja said the insurance premiums are quite affordable compared to cash payments.
He expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for rolling out the program, noting that it will enhance access to health services for everyone.
“I am happy that President Ruto has launched a new insurance model. Please, you are able to take the new health cover dubbed SHIF,” Sakaja said.
“I have been forced to release several women who were unable to pay their hospital bills. This means I have to foot the bills because nothing is for free.”
Sakaja made these remarks after paying the hospital bills for several patients at Mbagathi Hospital who were stranded.
The county boss cited a case of a man who approached him for help regarding a hospital bill running into tens of thousands saying he could have had his issues sorted if he had health cover.
“This young man has told me that his mother has a bill of Sh47,000 and that he has only Sh8,000. If he had paid that Sh8,000 instalments he would have sorted the bill without my help,” he said.
Highlighting the affordability of the program, Sakaja said Kenyans will be required to pay at least Sh300 monthly.
He said he will soon launch a programme that will help those completely unable to afford health cover.
“Every time I visit a hospital, I find several women who have given birth stranded. It is saddening. We are going to set up Sakaja Care soon where those completely unable will be catered for. But those who can pay, please pay for the SHIF cover,” he said.
He encouraged people to seize the opportunity to register for SHIF, especially after the national government approved a framework to transition from NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA) starting July 1, 2024.
To support this transition, the Ministry of Health will lead a mass registration exercise across all 47 counties, beginning on June 21, 2024.
