Cancer patients will now be able to access treatment of up to Sh550,000 annually under the Universal Health Coverage.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said all patients registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) will have access to the enhanced services effective April 1, 2025.
The CS noted that the amount will be partly covered by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and partly by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
“We are thrilled to announce that additional funding has been allocated to enhance the benefits available for patients in need of cancer diagnosis and treatment services. Each patient will now have access up to Sh550,000 per year, specifically designed to support their treatment journey.
“Within this framework, Sh400,000 will be available through the SHIF program, and an additional Sh150,000 will be accessible via ECCIF,” Duale said.
He added that this move will enable Kenyans registered under the SHA to receive the care and support they deserve.
Duale further noted that under the Critical Care Services, which includes the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and the High Dependency Unit (HDU), payments have also been enhanced.
He said that under SHA, daily reimbursement under Critical Care Services has been increased from the previous Sh4,480 to Sh28,000.
“This change underscores our commitment to ensuring that essential healthcare services are accessible and adequately supported.
“Patients will receive these vital services from our contracted providers to ensure the highest quality of care,” he said.
SHA replaced the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Its implementation has been met with many challenges including patients claiming that they still have to dig deeper into their pockets to be able to access services.
In other instances, Private hospitals had announced that they would not offer services to anyone registered under the insurance scheme until the state intervened.
Duale is the third CS to take charge of the Ministry of Health even as it faces challenges in the implementation of the SHA.
