President William Ruto has stated that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will pay all October claims by next week.
Speaking during the State of Nation Address at the Parliament, the President said free primary healthcare is increasingly becoming available in every healthcare centre.
“SHA will pay all October claims in full by next week and it will continue like that going into the future,” he said.
He has reiterated his remarks that the SHA is a revolutionary medical for all, despite financial status.
Ruto pointed out that for far too long, too many households have lived on the edge, just one illness away from financial catastrophe.
He regretted that the healthcare system has historically neglected the poor and vulnerable, leaving them without any options, while private sector medical covers remained out of reach for the majority.
“This is precisely what we will correct through the provision of universal healthcare (Taifa Care),” he said.
“This agenda is not just a promise; it is a bold commitment to deliver health through transformative financing reforms, making healthcare accessible and affordable, digitising healthcare services to enhance efficiency, eliminate fraud and stop corruption, and empower a skilled and motivated health workforce.”
He said the shift from the National Health Insurance Fund model to Taifa Care was fundamental and radical in both scale and character.
NHIF, Ruto said, served a few salaried Kenyans and those who could pay, but Taifa Care covers every Kenyan regardless of their employment status.
Secondly, despite serving a limited class of citizens, he added, NHIF nevertheless accumulated billions of shillings of debt because of misalignment between contributions and the actual cost of healthcare.
Ruto noted that Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services, to provide timely, effective and efficient service to everyone.
“Additionally, the NHIF had a waiting period, lasting between registration and eligibility for services. Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration,” he said.
The President urged every Kenyan to take the most important step in securing dependable healthcare for themselves and their families.
“Register now or at the earliest opportunity,” he added that so far, over 15 million Kenyans have registered.
He said once the transition from NHIF to SHA is completed,
Kenya will have a healthcare system that guarantees dignity, peace of mind and
equitable services for all.
