SHA releases over Sh1.36bn claims for October
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1mon agoPERPETUA ETYANGRealtime
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that Taifa Care, under the Social Health Authority (SHA), is the most transformative national health program the country has ever rolled out.
Kindiki said that despite the challenges it has encountered, he is confident it will be successful.
He insisted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is keen on making sure the program succeeds and that they are listening to input from all stakeholders and professionals.
“We expect the challenges to persist for a while. We are committed to resolving all the challenges, and we are listening to all the stakeholders, the professionals and even the users of the program. We will put together all the views that are important to make sure that the program works for the people of Kenya. And I want to assure you that the government is committed to making it succeed,” the Deputy President said.
He noted that many countries in the world have tried implementing the universal healthcare program and they have also faced challenges similar to what Kenya is going through.
Kindiki said some countries failed to achieve any success in the process.
“We are aware there are challenges, but this administration is determined to succeed in this program because it will transform Kenya like no other program has done… Many countries, including developed countries, have tried universal health care with some of them with a little success, others without any success.”
He added that while previous administrations tried to have the project unsuccessfully, Kenya Kwanza is committed to seeing the rollout of Taifa Care successful.
“The current challenges will be surmounted, and we were expected, because President Kibaki tried this program, universal coverage. It met a bit of a challenge, and there was a pullback. President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 under his Big Four agenda, also put this program forward. It met head widths, and there was pull. There was a bit of a pullback, and therefore we expected there will be a bit of turbulence at the takeoff of this program.”
He spoke when he led a host of senior government officials in participating in the Chepsaita Cross Country on Saturday.
His remarks come a few days after he said that once the program is successful, the current administration will be vindicated.
Kindiki said the government remains open to any ideas that can better the new national health insurance scheme.
He reiterated the state’s commitment to seeing the project to completion, adding that there is no turning back.
“I have no doubt as President Ruto has stated that we shall stand vindicated in the long run. As a responsible government, we shall we remain open to ideas and proposals that will better improve the rollout and implementation of the transformation agenda for the health sector especially through Taifa care, the universal health coverage.
“What is clear, however, is the conviction to see these reforms through, there is no turning back,” Kindiki said.
