Nakhumicha welcomes Court of Appeal decision on health plan
By George.Kebaso, January 22, 2024Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has welcomed the verdict by the Court of Appeal allowing the roll-out and implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund, saying it is a step towards the creation of a robust healthcare system in the country.
Nakhumicha said the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) remains one of the mechanisms for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which is a flagship project for the Kenya Kwanza administration under its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“I applaud the Court of Appeal for its swift decision greenlighting the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). This opens the door for a resilient healthcare system that perfectly aligns with the laid-out strategies for the enrollment of UHC,” she said.
Further, she noted the nod from the Court of Appeal clears any reservations Kenyans may have held pending its ruling on whether to continue contributing to the Social Health Insurance since NHIF had been suspended, adding that the ruling instills confidence amongst millions of Kenyans who rely on the insurance fund to access medical services.
SHIF is domiciled in the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA) alongside the Digital Health Act, Primary Healthcare Act and the Facility Improvement Financing Act which are part of the reforms aimed at streamlining and strengthening health service delivery in Kenya through UHC.
“The Fund is anchored in a health finance mechanism that will equitably protect people against financial and health burdens through a monthly premium. The Social Health Insurance (SHI) remains one of the mechanisms for achieving UHC which aims to advance quality and affordable healthcare to all Kenyans regardless of their financial abilities across all levels of government hospital,” she added.
Through the absorption of the 100, 000 Community Health Promoters, the Ministry of Health is on course with implementing the Primary Healthcare Act which aims to strengthen preventive health services.
while the Digital Health Act will promote telemedicine and digitization of health services which will go a long way towards elimination of corruption through written transactions within the health facilities.