Heath Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale has urged more Kenyans to enroll in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking at a fundraising event for Harhosa Mixed Day Secondary School in Marsabit County on Sunday, Duale noted that the new health care programme will allow all citizens to access affordable healthcare, unlike the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which benefited employed Kenyans.
The CS added that the enrolment has been slowed down by critics, who he says were making illegal financial gain with the defunct NHIF.
“Those opposing SHA are fraudsters. We have discovered that there are some private hospitals which are saying they are in Moyale but when doctors are dispatched, they are no longer there. They are opposing it because they were receiving free money,” he said.
He therefore urged residents in the North-Eastern region to embrace the healthcare programme to access quality healthcare.
“I have seen Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and Tana Rive still have low enrolment numbers. We will come with teams from SHA so that we register more people,” Duale noted.
This comes a week after Duale sounded the alarm over fraudulent claims by some health facilities to SHA, cautioning that institutions found culpable of billing for non-existent services will face blacklisting.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, CS Duale revealed that investigations are already underway targeting doctors allegedly involved in fraudulent billing practices.
He also acknowledged operational hiccups within the system, faulting some health workers and institutions for their role in undermining the program.
“The system may be facing challenges,” said Duale, “but part of the problem lies with dishonest health practitioners who are making false claims.”
SHA, which was launched to streamline access to affordable healthcare, has faced significant challenges since its inception. Many Kenyans have voiced concerns over its implementation, and now, allegations of fraud are casting further doubt on the program’s integrity.
Leaders continue to urge Kenyans to register on SHA as the country continues to grapple with critical healthcare challenges, including staffing shortages, funding constraints, and increasing demand for quality services under the SHA framework.
