The board of SHA, which made the decision, partly blamed him for the ongoing chaotic transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) into the authority. The board appointed Robert Ingasira, Director of Financial Services, as the acting CEO.
Wachira has denied all accusations and said he is not aware of any diverted funds. SHA board chairman Abdi Mohamed did not immediately respond to the Star.
The board also accused Wachira of prioritising payments to private hospitals for services offered to SHA members, at the expense of public hospitals. The ousted CEO has denied all these accusations.
Wachira was appointed CEO of the NHIF in October last year after a competitive process.
“The new management team brings on board an invaluable wealth of experience that will immensely contribute to the transition of the Fund into success,” former NHIF Board chairman Michael Kamau said at that time.
In a letter seen by the Star, Wachira has been sent on a compulsory leave for 3 months.
"This is to inform you of the resolution of the board to send you on a compulsory leave effectively immediately to allow for further investigation into your professional conduct," a letter by SHA chairperson Abdi Mohamed reads in part.
The letter further states that while on leave, Wachira will be entitled to all his remuneration and benefits and he has been directed to hand over his office to his his Mr Ingasira immediately.
He is a seasoned insurer, having been the Managing Director of CIC General for four years before he joined NHIF.
Wachira is a seasoned insurer, having been the Managing Director of CIC General for four years before he joined NHIF.
According to the minutes of Tuesday’s meeting, seen by the Star, the board complained of rising pending bills, which have forced hospitals to ask patients to pay cash.
“As its first assignment towards UHC attainment, it has been critical to pursue the clearance of these pending bills as they also disburse claims on time to avoid payment backlogs. Fifty per cent of the Sh19 billion pending bills have been cleared in just over one month, a historic fete since the advent of SHA,” the minutes read.
“It therefore comes as a concern when the Acting CEO, Mr. Elijah Wachira takes actions that not only go against this effort but put the delivery of health care services at risk despite the government’s best effort by diverting resources to a tune of Sh1.6 billion earmarked for offsetting debt to public government facilities almost leading to paralysis of healthcare on account of pending bills,” the board said.
This is the second change of leadership at the fledgling fund barely two months after it was set up. The first was the ouster of former chair Dr Timothy Olweny days before SHA was launched.
A recent analysis by the Star showed private health facilities are making more claims from the SHA, continuing with the old NHIF trend.
In the last month, SHA enrolled about 4,583 government-owned health facilities, 2,500 private facilities and 548 faith-based orgnisations. However, private facilities had the most authorisations for services at 85,700 authorisations compared to government facilities 78,100.
The private facilities also made claims worth Sh1.2
billion compared to government facilities Sh1.1
billion.
