The National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK) has raised concerns over the state of the healthcare sector in the country ahead of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) rollout.
In a statement, the council noted that church- owned and private health facilities have been crippled as a result of the failure by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to remit the funds due to them.
As such, they noted that it was unfair for the government to push for the transformation from NHIF to SHIF without indicating how debts will be paid.
”It is therefore a major concern that the government is pushing for a transition from the NHIF to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) without indicating how the NHIF debts will be paid,” read part of the statement.
NCCK also said that most health facilities do not have the required medicines and are yet to recover from the recent lengthy doctors’ strike.
NCCK Calls Out Govt
The council asked the Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha to speedily address the areas of concern to save the healthcare sector.
”We call upon the Cabinet Secretary for Health to speedily address this matter,” added the council.
Also Read: NHIF to SHA – CS Nakhumicha Explains New Health Insurance Registration Process
The statement by NCCK was rolled out during a two-day induction workshop of the elected NCCK County Coordinating Committees and the regional committee on 10th and 11th June 2024 at the Friends Church Kisumu.
The church leaders were elected during the forums held this year and they will hold office for three years.
Consequently, this statement comes as private and public hospitals are yet to recover from the recently concluded doctor’s strike.
The strike commenced on 13th March ,2024 as health practitioners complained of poor working conditions, salaries among other issues.
Also Read: Govt Announces SHIF Mass Registration Date
Transition to SHIF
Additionally, this statement comes after Health CS Susan Nakhumicha explained the registration process into the Social Health Authority (SHA) that will be managing Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
In an interview on Sunday, June 5, Nakhumicha said Kenyans will need a smartphone and internet connectivity to register to SHA.
Nakhumicha said that the proposal to transition to SHA is partly as a result of the challenges faced by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) over a long period of time.
Likewise, the government on June 11 announced the mass registrations for Kenyans to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) across all 47 counties.
The Cabinet said that the Ministry of Health will lead a mass registration exercise commencing on 21st June 2024.
“IN FURTHERANCE of the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Cabinet approved the framework for a full transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) beginning 1st July 2024.
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