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Lawmakers have opened a probe into the multi-billion shilling ICT digital system intended to register Kenyans into the Social Health Authority (SHA) as well as automate the entire healthcare system.

The MPs who sit in the department committee on Health chaired by Endebess MP Robert Pukose directed the Ministry of Health to provide tender documents, advertisement and estimated cost that the ministry is planning to spend to procure the said system.
The committee made the directive after MPs questioned how the ministry of Health has been registering members into the system which was yet to be procured.

Digital Superhighway

The system known as the digital superhighway is supposed to automate the entire healthcare ecosystem from registration, healthcare empanelment, healthcare service provision up to drugs.

As of yesterday, at least 484,263 Kenyans had been registered as members of SHA.

At a meeting with Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, the lawmakers raised concerns that the procurement of the system is not only ambiguous but also shrouded in secrecy.

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi started the debate when he sought to know how far the ministry had gone to procure the system.

In his statement, Kibagendi poked holes into how the system was being implemented claiming that the Ministry was rushing in to implementing the SHA yet they know the dates are not realistic.

He said: “How are you registering members, what is the cost of this system, MR PS you are continuously being ambiguous on this matter. We want you to tell us when was the advertisement for this issued, when was the tender given and how are you registering members in to a system that is yet to be procured.”

He added: “The urgency with which we passed this law and the urgency we have to implement it, I believe we will not meet these deadlines. It is prudent that PS you ask for an additional one year to organize yourselves, this targets you give yourselves of three months, one month will not succeed at all.”

Ministry timelines

Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron sought to know whether the Ministry of Health was comfortable with the timelines it has given themselves as they are not tenable.

He said: “The chair of the transition committee, do you believe that we are able to meet the deadline of October 1 when we are to launch this system, do you think we will be able to implement it on time or are we rushing this process. Are the timelines realistic.”
Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge sought to know whether MOH will be able to on board all the employees into SHA within the stipulated timelines.

But speaking while defending the new system, Kimtai promised to table all the documents even though he clarified that they are yet to finalise the procurement of the system. He explained that at the moment they have opened a registration portal internally to allow registration of members who will then be integrated into the new system once it is operational.

Once operational, Kimtai said the new system will be integrated with the digital health superhighway to provide for various services such as member services, healthcare empanelment, preauthorization and claims management.

Kimtai who appeared before the committee in company of SHA chairperson Dr Timothy Olweny and SHA acting CEO who doubles up as NHIF CEO Elijah Wachira assured the lawmakers that Kenyans will get better services in SHA as compared to National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

On the fate of employees, he explained that t SHA is awaiting approval of Human Resource instruments by the Public Service Commission and State Corporation Advisory Committee.

He explained that after approval, the said positions and Specifications will be identified and competitively filled, giving qualified NHIF staff priority as per the first schedule of the Social Health Insurance Act. NHIF staff will cease to apply on November 22, 2024.