By Jael Nyabuti
The Ministry of Health has announced a significant milestone in the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA).
Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai shared key details on the seamless progress and future steps in the onboarding of SHA employees before the Health Committee in Parliament.
PS Kimtai emphasized that the recruitment of SHA employees will begin once the Human Resource instruments under the new health scheme are approved.
“As a new organisation, SHA must have its own HR instruments. That is the reason we have devolved the new HR instruments, so that when you onboard the staff it will depend on the staff establishment and the category of that staff,” PS Kimtai emphasised.
He clarified that this process is standard for any organization undergoing structural changes.
Upon approval of the HR instruments, the government will then announce job vacancies under the new health insurance program.
Due to the differences in job classifications under SHA, NHIF employees must apply based on the new roles and titles established by SHA.
“We are currently at the transition stage, developing a new structure to onboard NHIF staff according to the criteria set out,” PS Kimtai noted.
“NHIF staff will need to apply for positions, as they are named differently under SHA,” the PS pointed out.
This comes shortly after the Ministry of Health clarified that NHIF will continue providing financial services for health coverage despite ongoing court battles.
“Pending the lifting of the court orders and within the 45-day stay order period, NHIF services will continue to be available to all paid-up and eligible members,” added the Health PS.
This update marks a crucial step in the seamless transition from NHIF to SHA, focusing on structured onboarding and prioritizing current NHIF employees.
As SHA moves forward in finalizing its HR instruments, the health sector in Kenya is set for a smooth shift towards an improved health insurance framework.
For more updates stay tuned on the recruitment process and the future landscape of health insurance in Kenya as SHA takes the helm from NHIF.
The Ministry of Health Explains When and How NHIF Employees Would be Onboarded to SHA Ahead of Deadline.