The Social Health Authority (SHA) has issued a public notice to hospitals under the Primary Care Network (PCN).
SHA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elijah Wachira explained that county executive committee members are mandated to establish a PCN in their respective counties at the sub-county level, as per Section 18 of the Primary Health Care Act, 2023.
Wachira stated that each Primary Care Network should consist of a Level 4 sub-county hospital serving as the hub, with Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH) Levels 3, 2, and 1 acting as spokes.
“Every Primary Care Network is designated to serve a specific population, as determined by the County Primary Health Care Advisory Committee, and each person within the population will be registered within a specific PCN,” he said.
He emphasized that the primary goal of establishing PCNs is to enable the delivery and access to primary healthcare services from the community level to healthcare facilities in a seamless, coordinated manner, thereby promoting efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
Additionally, Wachira said the Act establishes a Primary Healthcare (PHC) Fund, which is funded by the exchequer, with SHA-registered members as the eligible beneficiaries of the fund.
The PHC Fund is intended to procure primary healthcare services from Level 2 and 3 hospitals within the PCN at the sub-county level. These services include essential outpatient services, screening, inpatient, and maternity services.
The CEO explained that the provider payment mechanism will vary based on the benefit package approved by the Authority’s Board.
Also Read: Parents Directed to Urgently Register Students Under SHIF
SHA Directive to Hospitals
Wachira informed KEPH Level 2 and 3 healthcare providers that the Authority has completed the compilation of hospitals under the PCN.
He directed the hospitals to visit the SHA website to access the full list of hospitals and update their information if details are missing or inaccurate.
“Relevant regulatory agencies have successfully concluded the compilation of hospitals under the Primary Care Network, and the comprehensive list of hospitals has been published on the SHA website,” Wachira said.
“Level 2 and 3 hospitals are requested to visit our website at https://sha.go.ke/resources/categories/2 to verify if they are included in the directory. If your hospital is not listed, or if the information provided is inaccurate, please contact us at pcn@sha.go.ke to update our records accordingly.”
The CEO thanked the hospitals for their cooperation in ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the process.
For further inquiries and assistance, hospitals can contact pcn@sha.go.ke, dial *147#, or visit www.sha.go.ke/registration to register.
Also Read: Govt Gives Way Forward on NHIF After Court Ruling on SHIF
Case Against SHIF
There is an ongoing court case that challenges the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which is set to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
On July 12, the High Court declared SHIF unconstitutional and gave Parliament 120 days to amend the Act.
However, the court later suspended its decision to nullify SHIF laws for 45 days after the Attorney General’s office argued that nullification would create a void in the health sector.
As the case continues, Wachira confirmed that NHIF services will remain accessible to all eligible members who have paid.
He explained that continuing with the existing NHIF framework will prevent any gaps in health financing.
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