SHA seeks higher oncology cover to ease cancer burden
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 6, 2025The Social Health Authority (SHA) has asked the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) to raise the oncology package limit to Ksh1 million per beneficiary. The proposal aims to ease the financial strain on cancer patients and improve access to comprehensive care.
According to a post on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s X account on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, he made the disclosure while appearing before the National Assembly plenary sitting, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. He said the SHA, through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), has continued to support patients from diagnosis to treatment and palliative care.
Earlier, the medical scheme expanded the benefits package for Primary Health Care (PHC) services, aiming to enhance accessibility and quality for all Kenyans.
At present, the oncology package offers coverage of up to Ksh550,000 per patient, jointly financed by the SHIF (Ksh400,000) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) (KES 150,000).
“SHA has requested the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) to raise the oncology package limit to KES 1 million per beneficiary,” the post reads.
The proposed increase to Ksh1 million is expected to expand access to cancer treatment and reduce the number of patients who are forced to discontinue care due to cost.
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SHA expands cancer coverage
Duale said the SHA had already strengthened coverage by removing limits on treatment cycles within the annual cap.
Currently, 140 health facilities are contracted to provide full cancer care under SHA. So far, 33,101 patients have benefited from the scheme, with Ksh5.8 billion already paid out in claims and an additional Ksh774.6 million still being processed.
Duale assured MPs that the Ministry of Health remains committed to improving cancer benefits and clearing pending bills owed to hospitals under the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The first repayment of Ksh5.3 billion will prioritise facilities owed between Ksh1 million and Ksh10 million.
On other health matters, Duale said the Ministry had resolved the doctors’ strike in Kiambu County through a National Return-to-Work Framework (RTWF), restoring normal operations across the country.
He also reported steady progress in Kenya’s fight against tuberculosis, with cases down by 41 per cent and deaths reduced by 65 per cent since 2015. Kenya was removed from the World Health Organization’s high-burden countries list in 2020 following the sharp decline in drug-resistant TB.