Patients seeking medical services from the Social Health Authority (SHA) may face difficulties due to a critical omission during the registration process, the government has discovered.
In a news conference on Wednesday, February 5, Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth provided an update on the healthcare system’s implementation.
Dr. Amoth stated that the government was close to reaching the 19 million registration goal.
However, the Director General stated that, despite the large number of Kenyans who have registered for SHA, not all of them may access services at approved facilities since they have not yet completed a means test.
According to the Health Ministry’s website, means testing is the process of determining a household’s financial capability, particularly for individuals who do not get a regular income.
This method comprises evaluating the household’s socioeconomic factors, such as its capacity to obtain services, composition, and living conditions.
Dr. Amoth highlighted that one of the primary issues the government has faced is determining the real representation of money earned in a home.
On average, the means testing average produces a premium of KSh592 Kenya shillings.
“One challenge that we are facing is not many of our people who register through the process complete it in its entirety to the point of doing the means testing,” Amoth observed.
SHA Members who earn a salary typically make monthly contributions as a statutory deduction from wages or compensation by their employer.
According to the regulations, Kenyans contribute 2.75 percent, although at a basis of Ksh300.
“So far we only have 3.1 million people who have done means testing meaning some cannot be eligible for the services under the Social Health insurance fund,” stated Amoth.
“They cannot be able to access primary healthcare services and emergency services.”
The Director General feels that registering for the Social Health Authority early on, rather than waiting until one needs medical aid, can solve this problem.
The government has also asked Kenyans to communicate with community health promoters to help them complete the registration process.
Despite the obstacles that SHA faces, major players have devised strategies to address flaws in the new healthcare system, which is only six months old.
Machakos County politicians requested in January that the National government take over key operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
They believe this move would resolve the problem of lack of sufficient workforce experienced in county hospitals.
Meanwhile, MPs have given the Ministry of Health and SHA members two weeks to deliberate and prepare a comprehensive report on the difficulties facing the new healthcare system.
