Faith-based hospitals continue to struggle with unpaid National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) amounts amounting to more than Sh250 million, Archbishop of Nyeri Anthony Muheria has said.
Muheria, who blamed the ongoing transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) said unpaid debts have pushed many hospitals into financial distress despite their efforts to improve the delivery of health services.
“We still have over Sh250 million owed to us by the government for the last four years. We try, we cry, we appeal, we plead but we seem to receive noncommittal responses," Muheria said.
“In any industry or a company, Sh250 million is a debt that paralyses an institution, yet we have continued offering services,” he added.
Muheria asked the government to reimburse the money for the hospitals to continue offering services to Kenyans.
The Catholic Church leaders have long been vocal on the matter, urging the government to settle its outstanding debts, which play a crucial role in providing healthcare to vulnerable communities across the country.
The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) on Thursday announced an indefinite suspension of services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme starting February 24, citing unpaid claims and an unsustainable reimbursement model.
“The continued failure to resolve critical challenges in the SHA transition is directly endangering patient care and hospital sustainability,” RUPHA Chairman Brian Lishenga said.
"Hospitals have lost staff, defaulted on loans, and faced medicine shortages due to delayed payments.”
