Cabinet okays transition from NHIF to SHA
By Arnold Ngure, June 11, 2024
President William Ruto’s cabinet on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, approved the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Authority (SHA) beginning in July 1, 2024.
“In furtherance of the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Cabinet approved the framework for a full transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) beginning July 1, 2024,” a Cabinet statement said.
The cabinet approved to conduct a nationwide registration exercise of members of the public into the new health policy that will begin on June 21, 2024, in all the 47 counties and across all platforms.
Ruto encouraged Kenyans to register for the health policy as part of the wider goal of achieving a universal health coverage for all.
“Consequently, the cabinet urges all Kenyans to register under the new scheme in the historic endeavour to usher Kenya into the league of nations with health coverage for all,” the statement read.
SHA registration process
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha urged members of the public to prepare for the registration into the new health scheme, saying its services would be better than the NHIF.
The SHA is expected to begin offering services by July 1, 2024, while the registration process is set to end on June 30, 2024.
Kenyans can register on the phone or at all public hospitals and through the 100,000 Community Health promoters across the country.
“We are establishing multiple channels for registration. The only instance where a visit to your health facility may be necessary for finalization is to undergo biometric registration,” Nakhumicha said.
The CS also noted that Kenyans can also visit Huduma Centres across the country and register for the new health scheme(SHA).
She, however, said that individuals who were previously enrolled on the NHIF will only need to verify their details and make necessary changes before transitioning into the new system.
“So, what has occurred is that the existing data of Kenyans already enrolled in NHIF has been uploaded onto the system. This process will essentially be a confirmation. For instance, I input my ID number. It retrieves my name, Susan Ahmed. It confirms my dependents. I can then confirm these details as I proceed through the process,” Nakhumicha expounded.
In the new SHA scheme, Kenyans will be required to pay 2.5 per cent of their gross salary towards the Social Health Authority’s fund.
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