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Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has explained why the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been replaced with the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Addressing the press on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Mwaura made the clarification amid public concerns on the new insurance model. While pointing out what he says is NHIF’s shortcomings, Mwaura explained how the new model will address those challenges.

“Sustainable financing has been a challenge under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which primarily relies on contributions from employed individuals. This focus has hindered broader health financing, which is essential for providing equitable healthcare services to all Kenyans.

“To address the challenges, the government established the Social Health Authority (SHA). The SHA aims to include all adult Kenyans in contributing to a sustainable fund that covers a wider range of health services,” Mwaura said.

SHA, according to Mwaura, will also ensure that every citizen accesses healthcare.

“Unlike NHIF, which mostly required additional community fundraising efforts, SHA ensures that every citizen can access quality healthcare through enhanced government financing.

“These are possible through the newly introduced legal frameworks aimed at facilitating the transition to Univemal Health Care. The framework includes the Primary Healthcare Act, the Social Health Insurance Act, and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Act,” he continued.

Frameworks

The Primary Health Care Fund, the Emergenc, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund, both of which will be publicly financed, and the Social Health Insurance Fund to be financed through individual contributions are also the three thematic frameworks that will be created.

“This shift from NHIF to SHA aims to provide comprehensive, quality, and equitable healthcare for all Kenyans, including those in the informal employment sector. Through the engagement of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), SHA envisions a system in which preventive and promotive healthcare services work towards early diagnosis and treatment, further lessening the disease burden,” he concluded.