Lawmakers have attributed the challenges facing the implementation of Social Health Authority (SHA) to demoralisation and low morale among staff of the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) who were seconded to the body.

The MPs who sit on the Departmental Committee on Health said the situation has been worsened by the fact that the staff have been retained on six-month contracts.

This, the MPs said, has been compounded further by the fact that all top SHA managers are serving in an acting capacity.

At a meeting with SHA bosses, the lawmakers said the former NHIF employees should be given the first priority during recruitment of new staff.

This comes after the Public Service Commission (PSC) capped the number of SHA staff at 800, significantly lower than the 1,750 personnel inherited from the NHIF.

Led by the committee chairperson and Endebess MP Robert Pukose, the MPs directed the State Department for Medical Services and SHA to ensure that the recruitment exercise is done in a fair and transparent process.

They cautioned that the committee would not hesitate to launch an inquiry into the transition from NHIF to SHA if evidence of irregularities in staff recruitment emerged.

“We must uphold transparency and ensure that the hiring process is free from undue influence, as any abuse of the process would be unacceptable,” he said.

Mogotio Reuben Kiborek, regretted that SHA staff are highly demoralised, because of how they were treated during the transition from NHIF to SHA as they were made to feel that their services were not needed. He urged the SHA board to fast-track the recruitment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other key personnel.

“Some decisions may be unpopular, and some may involve risks. That is why we need a substantive CEO. Someone who is not constantly worried about job security but focused on making the tough calls needed to make SHA work. The current teething problems can only be resolved through strong leadership, starting with the appointment of a permanent CEO,” Kiborek said.

Kitutu Chache South Anthony Kibagendi, echoed similar sentiments, cautioning against blanket condemnation of NHIF employees.