Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Debra Mulongo Barasa has announced enhanced benefits under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a statement on March 5, Barasa revealed that the government has increased the high dependency unit (HDU), intensive care unit coverage from Ksh4,600 to Ksh28,000.
“We are now increasing the amount to Ksh28,000 for critical care management and we will keep reviewing the benefit tariff package to ensure that it is addressing the concerns of Kenyans and that they are receiving quality services,” she announced in a briefing on Wednesday.
Other revised benefits include an expanded oncology care package which has been increased from Ksh400,000 to Ksh550,000 per household to make cancer treatment more affordable.
Barasa also announced that the Ministry will integrate 15 high volume facilities into the health care information system.
She explained that this will enable seamless sharing of patient’s data and coordinated care across multiple hospitals.
“I have also tasked the team to look at scope of practice for each healthcare worker across the country. That way, we can be able to see what they are eligible to do in terms of procedures and they continue to offer quality care services to all Kenyans and ensure they are safe while undergoing these procedures,” Barasa said.
Further, the Ministry will establish a 24-hour call centre to offer real-time assistance to patients and healthcare providers.
SHA Changes on Payment to Hospitals
On March 5, the Ministry provided a progress update on SHA new healthcare financing model.
Payments to health facilities will now be based on the actual number of patients served as opposed to insurance coverage.
The Ministry explained that this will ensure funds are allocated where they are needed most.
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Primary Health Care to be Tax-Funded
Besides, Primary Health Care (PHC) services will be fully tax-funded, reinforcing the principle that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
“The new financing model ensures efficiency, transparency, and fairness in how public healthcare resources are distributed,” the Ministry said.
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Reducing Claims Processing Time
In a subsequent statement, the ministry said SHA is reducing claims processing time from 90 days to 30 days to ensure smooth facility operations.
Additionally, all PHC payments will now be sent directly to PHC Fund accounts to guarantee dedicated financing for essential healthcare services.
The Ministry urged counties to strengthen Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) Committees to enhance financial management and service delivery.
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