Gatundu Level 5 Hospital is on the spot following reports of corruption involving mothers covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Social Health Authority (SHA).
Reports suggest that vulnerable patients, particularly those accessing maternity care through the SHA’s Linda Mama program, are being coerced into paying bribes to process bills or secure discharge.
This scandal not only threatens public trust in Kenya’s healthcare system but also exposes systemic exploitation in facilities meant to deliver universal access to care.
The SHA was established to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with the aim of improving access to healthcare services.
A flagship initiative under SHA, the Linda Mama program was designed to ensure free and seamless maternity care for Kenyan mothers.
However, at Gatundu Level 5, these promises appear to be far from reality.
Patients with active SHIF accounts are reportedly being extorted, forced to pay bribes or settle bills in cash despite being covered.
Some mothers have even been unlawfully detained when unable to meet these demands.
One shocking case involved a mother who was detained for four days after giving birth, despite having an active SHIF account.
Her bill of Ksh 24,560 was allegedly reduced to Ksh 5,000 after she paid a bribe, highlighting unethical practices within the hospital.
Another reported scheme includes deliberate delays in processing SHIF claims, with hospital staff citing unavailability of birth notifications as an excuse.
Such tactics not only inconvenience patients but also point to a well-coordinated system of extortion.
These practices are in direct violation of the SHA’s objectives to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to all Kenyans.
The Linda Mama program, in particular, is meant to eliminate financial barriers for maternity care, ensuring that no mother has to pay out of pocket.
The corruption allegations at Gatundu Level 5 undermine this mission, putting low-income mothers at risk and exacerbating inequities in healthcare access.
The situation calls for immediate action from the Ministry of Health and SHA to investigate and address these claims.
Accountability measures must be enforced to ensure that public funds are used transparently and effectively.
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