More than half of the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees have been excluded from the staffing structure of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee on Monday, February 10, SHA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Ingasira revealed that only 815 out of 1,737 NHIF staff will be absorbed into SHA and others relocated to other departments within the public service.
Ingasira informed the Committee that the Public Service Commission (PSC) had approved SHA’s figures.
Therefore, 922 former NHIF staff will not be part of the new authority and will instead be placed in other government agencies.
“The SHA board has since reviewed the human resource instruments and submitted the same to PSC for approval. As we sit here, we just received an approval of the PSC that caps SHA staff establishment at 815,” Ingasira told MPs.
NHIF Staff to Undergo Test
Health Principal Secretary (PS) Harry Kimtai told the committee that suitability tests for ex-NHIF staff transitioning to SHA would begin before the end of February 2025,”
“The SHA board has since sought the advisory of both the Attorney General and the Public Service Commission on staff transition,” Mr Kimtai said.
“The SHA board has since reviewed the Human Resource instruments and submitted the same to PSC for approval. Suitability tests scheduled to commence before the end of February 2025.”
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Further, Kimtai explained that the PSC officially took over the ex-NHIF employees on November 21, 2024, and assigned them to SHA for six months or until SHA completes its recruitment process, whichever comes first.
He noted that the SHA board will assess qualifications and give priority to former NHIF staff who meet the requirements for available positions.
“The Board of SHA established under section 4 of the Act shall competitively recruit and appoint its staff under section 17 of the Act subject to the approved staff establishment and on such terms and conditions of service as may be determined by the Board,” Kimtai said.
Also Read: Govt to Review SHA Benefits for Kenyans Seeking Treatment Abroad After Uproar
Fate of Employees Left Out of SHA
Kimtai said the staff transition from the defunct NHIF to the SHA is guided by Clause 6 of the First Schedule-Transitional Clauses of the SHI Act 2023.
The Act requires the authority to review the qualifications of all Fund staff and, in appointing its staff, prioritize NHIF employees who are deemed suitably qualified for positions in the approved staff establishment.
He added that the law allows NHIF staff not absorbed into SHA to either retire from public service or be redeployed elsewhere.
The PS, however, assured MPs that all former NHIF employees had been issued letters confirming they are now employees of the PSC.
Kimtai and Ingasira appeared before the committee, led by Endebess legislator Dr. Robert Pukose, to discuss the delays and gaps in implementing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which replaces NHIF.
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