Githunguri MP Gathoni WamuchombaGithunguri MP Gathoni wa Muchomba has listed various reasons why the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) is facing a lot of challenges.
In a statement on Wednesday, Wamuchomba listed five reasons stating that the programme was rushed without any pilot project being successful.
“The UHC pilot done in Nyeri, Kisumu, Machakos and Isiolo flopped,” she said.
The MP went on to state that the Population economic Means testing is also slow and inefficient.
She insisted that this should have been done before the big migration from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The lawmaker also noted that the uncertainty of payments of debts owed to hospitals by NHIF, has highly contributed to this.
She said that it is the reason health facilities have been slow in adopting the Social Health Authority services.
The legislator also cited information dissemination gaps to the beneficiary communities and stakeholders as another reason SHA faces challenges.
“Lack of harmony of functions between county Governments and National Government. Some counties are yet to sign the intergovernmental participatory agreements (IPA),” Wamuchomba added.
She also said unreliable SHA data systems, which keeps dropping amid operations are also part of the reasons.
This comes even as there is still conflicting information over the use of the new SHA system.
While the government says the system is operational and working, a section of Kenyans have disputed this.
Some claim that they have been denied services at various hospitals, saying that they don’t accept the service.
Some hospitals have, however, said they accept the SHA and have been offering services to Kenyans.
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.
So far, more than 13 million Kenyans have already registered under the new healthcare scheme.
