By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Social Health Authority has now registered 18,988,530 Kenyans, reflecting significant progress in the transition to the new healthcare financing model.
The Ministry of Health reported that 4.3 million individuals who migrated from NHIF have yet to update their profiles, which affects their eligibility for services under SHA.
“The Ministry is calling on all registered members to complete their profile updates to ensure seamless access to healthcare services,” said the Ministry of Health.
The Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said that SHA registration trends indicate a sharp decline in weekend sign-ups, with an average of 26,000 people registering compared to 75,000 on weekdays.
“This highlights the need to encourage proactive registration beyond hospital visits” Dr. Amoth said.
“Additionally, 3.1 million Kenyans have undergone means-testing to determine their required premium contributions, but this remains low.”
“Without means testing, many individuals will only have access to primary healthcare and emergency services, limiting the full benefits of SHA,” Dr Amoth added.
According to records in the Ministry of Health, registration coverage is highest in Mombasa, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Bomet, while Turkana, West Pokot, Garissa, and Samburu have the lowest uptake.
The Ministry emphasized that it will continue working with county governments and community stakeholders to increase enrollment, particularly in underserved regions.
The Ministry of Health has also enhanced its initiatives to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Social Health Authority (SHA), utilizing digital technologies to optimize healthcare service delivery.