Drama as patients storm Afya House over SHA failures

Grace Mulei, a patient, from Kenyatta National Hospital, storms Afya House,Nairobi to register her disappointment with SHA on January 15, 2025. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard] Drama unfolded after desperate patients from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) stormed at the Ministry of Health headquarters to express their frustrations over the Social Health Authority (SHA). This came minutes after top officials concluded a media briefing on the state of healthcare at the Afya House. Grace Njoki Mule and Diana Akoth, who was clutching her baby, confronted officials to share their struggles with the new health scheme. Mule said there were more than 20 patients waiting for services at the KNH due to delays from SHA systems. "The system has been down since last Wednesday, and nobody seems to care." She claimed that a child who had a coin stuck in the body had been waiting for treatment for hours. "There is a man whose child swallowed a coin and the child has not eaten from Tuesday. They were instructed to look for PS Kimtai," said Mule. "We have been in Kenyatta waiting for that portal to open and it's not working... People have come from far as Kibwezi, some as far as Mombasa." Akoth claimed that she developed complications after Caesarean Section three weeks ago but could not get ultrasound and MRI services. "I've paid all the required fees - they even made us pay for six months in advance. But without SHA approval, we can't get any treatment. I've walked from KNH to the SHA offices, trying to get help, but we're still being denied services," she said. She claimed that the system has been gobbling up her money with no services rendered. "Every time I pay, the system shows the transaction, but nothing happens," she said "We are suffering. Please, whoever is in charge of SHA, help us." No official from the ministry met the patients to address their concerns. Earlier on, SHA Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira had defended the scheme, citing the successful collection of over Sh20 billion and disbursements of Sh2.6 billion to healthcare providers. He had taken the media through the operations of SHA, stating, for the umpteenth time, that the scheme would ensure the provision of universal healthcare. Dr Ingasira said the authority was working with commercial banks to ease financing. "For effective operations, we've distributed our SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund) accounts across six commercial banks. The other two funds (Primary Health Care Fund, and Emergency, Critical, and Chronic Illness Fund) each maintain an account in a separate bank." The latest developments expose serious flaws in the SHA system, launched in October, which the ministry has been fronting as another success story. The failures extend beyond individual patients. Clinical officers have reported being locked out of the system due to requirements that force them to register with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, a body that regulates doctors. Questions have also emerged about the financial management of SHA funds. Critics point to potential irregularities in the handling of public funds, with concerns about these moneys being channeled through an escrow account, potentially violating the Public Finance Management Act Health CS Barasa acknowledged the accessibility challenges but pointed to future solutions, including a proposed quality of care Bill aimed at improving coverage and accessibility.

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Drama as patients storm Afya House over SHA failures

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