It is over for SHIF as Church leaders also reject it one month after rollout as patients continue suffering

Sunday, November 10, 2024 – President William Ruto's Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) which is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA) has received yet another blow.

This is after Church leaders also rejected it, saying it is not working for patients who are meant to benefit from it.

This follows the sufferings patients continue to undergo under SHIF.

Church leaders, led by the Nation Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Chairman Bishop Alphonso Kanga, rejected the SHA rollout, challenging the government to prioritize Kenyans over soliciting more money.

Their concerns about the new health insurance fund have been raised by cases of Kenyans being forced to pay out of their pockets despite paying for the insurance for services that were previously fully covered under the previous health insurance fund, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

NCCK, which precedes medical facilities run by faith-based organizations delivered its prognosis a month after the SHA rollout. 

The church leaders have challenged the government to go back to NHIF as they review SHA and ensure it's completely working before it fully takes over.

According to the leaders, SHA and SHIF were hurriedly rolled out, and this was evident by the numerous complaints made by Kenyans.

"It does not make sense to us that Kenyans are now paying more money but are getting fewer benefits, we are moving from okay to worse," Bishop Kanga revealed.

Nyeri Diosis Archbishop Antony Muheria also reiterated NCCK sentiments, saying that what is happening in SHIF contradicts every aspect of upholding human rights.

"With the shift from NHIF to SHIF, we don't seem to have had that thought of the sick, people who die because they can't get services that's our main concern,” Muheria stated.

However, Ruto’s government has dismissed calls for a review of the SHIF, insisting that the system works.

The Kenyan DAILY POST