Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has insisted that the Social Heath Authority (SHA) will work for the benefit of all the people of Kenya.
Speaking in Laisamis, Samburu County on Sunday, Kindiki said the Health sector reforms are well-intentioned.
He added that they aim to alleviate the pain of meeting medical care costs for a vast majority of citizens.
“I can say without fear of contradiction that the new Social Health Insurance will work and it will benefit the people. We have had a few challenges, but as we speak, those with chronic illnesses and emergency cases are not having problems," he said.
“The only areas that have issues are outpatient and the lower-level hospitals, level two and three, which have inadequate diagnostics equipment and the referral system is yet to be worked on properly. Those problems we will finish them."
Kindiki added that the Social Health Authority (SHA) whose benefits include preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services for the people of Kenya will work, the transition challenges notwithstanding.
“We urge all citizens to register and make them eligible to access the comprehensive range of quality health services and cushion them from the burden of financial hardship,” he said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of reports that the newly introduced health insurance scheme was not working.
The government has insisted that it is working and they will make it better with time.
Kindiki had attended a church service in Laisamis.
He was accompanied by a host of leaders including Members of Parliament; Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Naomi Waqo (Marsabit), John Bwire (Taveta), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Gideon Kimaiyo ( Keiyo South) and Geoffrey Mulanya ( Nambale).
Marsabit County Government leaders and community leaders were present.
On Thursday, the DP said the Kenya Kwanza administration's agenda for health, which has resulted in the current reform movement, is anchored in the national vision.
“Reform is not just to change and revamp health institutions, but it is to ensure that the new system reaches out to as many of our people as possible so that health does not become a prison of some people in Kenya,” he said.
He reiterated that SHA will become accessible and affordable to as many people as possible.
He cited the President’s devotion to streamlining healthcare reiterating that the current administration has a vision and would transform SHA beyond critics’ imagination.