Why move to SHA is important – Health Authority boss Olweny

Social Health Authority chairman Timothy Olweny has defended the Social Health Act, saying it will address NHIF's shortcomings.

He said SHA will help fulfill the government's mandate to provide affordable primary healthcare and emergency health services.

Olweny said the Act will provide additional services that were not covered by NHIF.

“We will be better than NHIF. The transition is going to be very smooth,” he told the Star.

Preparations are in full gear to have the programme working, Olweny said. This is despite the court cases that have dragged the process.

He said Kenyans should expect the Social Health Insurance Fund to be fully operational by October 1.

Registration is currently ongoing.

“It will be operational by October 1, unless issues that might hinder operation arise. For now, registration continues and more than 509,267 Kenyans have registered,” Olweny said.

The chairman admitted that the transition has not been easy.

“There are challenges, but we have managed so far,” he said.

The authority extended the service providers' contracts to enable patients with NHIF cards to continue accessing services.

Olweny said the contract extension had nothing to do with the High Court’s decision on SHIF.

On Linda Mama, which has also been an issue of contention over the implementation of SHIF, the SHA chairman said the benefits will still be available.

He insisted that what is being done to enhance the benefits is to cover areas that it did not cover before.

“This is a strategic government project, it cannot be abandoned. It is only being enhanced in aspects such as increasing the number of outpatient visits and among other emergency services,” he added.

"It will cover delivery and other reproductive services and complications as well."

On whether the name will remain the same or change, Olweny said, “If it were up to me, I would maintain the name.”

He, however, said that no decision has been made yet.