As questions linger over the challenges in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, the government has been challenged to investigate the operations of the system to ensure it has control after it emerged that it had fallen into the hands of private entities.

A scathing audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu established that the government had lost control of the health system, raising serious concerns about data security and Kenya’s public health management.

The report unearthed that the consortium collects 2.5 per cent from every contribution by members, five per cent from claims by health facilities, and 1.5 per cent for track and trace solutions.

Exclusive control

The consortium comprises private entities and foreign partners who retain exclusive control of the system leaving the government unable to manage critical health data independently. This is despite the government having reportedly staggered 104.8 billion shillings into the system.

Following the report, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi (above) now wants the individuals behind the private consortium established, saying that Kenyans have a right to know who owns and controls a system they are funding.

The legislator also took issue with the rationale for bypassing competitive procurement after it emerged that the government adopted the Specially Permitted Procurement Procedure to procure the consortium.

Renegotiation

“The public must see the agreement that has placed our healthcare system in private hands. We also want a reversal of exploitative deductions. The 5 per cent claim deduction will burden hospitals and patients alike,” demanded the lawmaker.

He at the same time rooted for renegotiation of the contract to restore government ownership and control, indicating that no country should allow private entities to hold its national healthcare infrastructure hostage. In a statement to newsrooms, the MP insisted that the government should come clean saying that Kenyans will not accept silence on the matter.