State averts public health unions' strike over SHA rollout
The unions called off the strike after siging deal on Wednesday.
More than 13 million Kenyans have already registered under the new scheme.
In Summary
The government will ensure every Kenyan is registered with the new Social Health Authority (SHA) before the end of the year, PS Medical Services Harry Kimtai has said.
To make it possible the government has formed a special team through the County Commissioners and CECs to ensure that each Kenyan is registered under SHA.
The multi-sectorial committee brings the National Government Officials through NGAO and private hospitals.
This is after a meeting was held between ministry officials and county commissioners on Wednesday.
Those present during the meeting will be incharge in making sure that everyone gets registered and moves to SHA.
The ones who will be incharge of the Team formed are County Commissioners from most of the regions in the counties including Rift Valley,Central and Western Region together with the CECs.
“We are meeting with county commissioners from central region, from North Eastern, Eastern and parts of Rift Valley region, where we have agreed on a joint effort to ensure that we continue with the roll out of SHA,” Kimtai said.
“We are seeing an upsurge of Kenyans, like yesterday we saw about 91,000 Kenyans registering and we want to sustain the number," Kimtai added while explaining the number of Kenyans who registered in a single day.
The PS further added that if they work together with the formed committee and Kenyans continue registering in large numbers, the government will definitely will have registered all Kenyans to the Social Health Authority by the end of the year.
The Social Health Authority replaced the now defunct National Health insurance Fund.
The Ministry of Health and other stakeholders are making sure that all kenyans get registered under SHA and have a smooth transition from NHIF.
According to Kimtai, more than 13 million Kenyans have already registered under the new healthcare scheme.
The SHA, which replaces NHIF, allows Kenyans to access medical treatment at public, private, and faith-based healthcare facilities with uniform service costs across all sectors.
The unions called off the strike after siging deal on Wednesday.
It includes Sh1 billion allocated for Linda Mama programme.