The government has scrapped maternity fees at primary health facilities after the Social Health Authority (SHA) formally rolled out new reforms aimed at expanding access to basic healthcare across the country.
The changes, published in the Kenya Gazette under Legal Notice No. 78 of 2026, introduce free delivery services for all registered SHA beneficiaries at Level 2 and Level 3 facilities.
These include dispensaries and health centers, which serve as the first point of care for millions of Kenyans, especially in rural areas.
Under the new guidelines, mothers will no longer pay for normal delivery or cesarean section services at these facilities.
The government will instead reimburse health centers directly, paying Ksh10,000 for normal delivery and Ksh30,000 for cesarean section, including essential newborn care.
The package also covers antenatal and postnatal services, laboratory tests, medications, blood services, newborn immunizations, and other related treatments.
The maternity cover further includes care for both mother and newborn during and after delivery, including monitoring, medication and immediate postnatal support as defined under Ministry of Health guidelines.
Free Maternity Services Begin
According to a notice issued by the Social Health Authority on May 11, the new maternity services will be offered on a walk-in, walk-out basis, meaning mothers will not be required to make any payments at the point of care.
The services will be fully financed through the Primary Healthcare Fund, a key component of the new health financing model that supports basic care at community-level facilities.
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The funding framework places primary healthcare at the center of service delivery under SHA, with Level 2 and Level 3 facilities serving as the main access points for essential services.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the reforms were informed by directives from President William Ruto and resolutions from the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit aimed at strengthening universal health coverage.
The Health CS noted that the measures are intended to expand access to skilled delivery services and shift maternity care to lower-level health facilities.
“These interventions reaffirm our commitment to building an inclusive, responsive and people-centred healthcare system where no Kenyan is left behind,” Duale explained.
SHA Cancer Cover Expanded
The new SHA package also increases the annual cancer treatment cover from Ksh550,000 to Ksh800,000, alongside an expansion of the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund allocation from Ksh150,000 to Ksh400,000.
The revised package provides access to consultations, diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up care under structured tariffs set by the Ministry of Health.
The structure covers the full cycle of cancer care, from initial diagnosis and staging to treatment and post-treatment monitoring.
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Under SHA, holistic oncology consultations have been capped at Ksh2,500 per visit, covering services from oncologists, nutritionists, mental health specialists, and palliative care providers.
Chemotherapy administration is set at Ksh5,500 per session, while radiotherapy is capped at Ksh3,600 per session, with a cap of 30 sessions per patient.
Advanced diagnostic services are also included, with CT scans priced at Ksh6,900, MRI scans at Ksh11,000, PET scans at Ksh53,500, and PSMA PET scans at Ksh64,200.
Specialized therapies such as brachytherapy are covered at Ksh40,000 for three sessions, while stereotactic body radiotherapy and radiosurgery are covered at up to Ksh70,000 for five sessions.
The package further includes tumor marker tests capped at Ksh8,000, as well as supportive care medication of up to Ksh10,000 and structured follow-up care under national cancer treatment protocols.
These are used alongside imaging and clinical assessments to guide diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of disease progression.
In addition, the SHA reforms introduce specific support for sickle cell patients, with apheresis platelets covered at Ksh20,000 and red cell exchange at Ksh70,000, each accessible up to three times within a policy period.
