The government has committed to refunding Sh9,500 to an elderly man from Nakuru, James Kanyore, who was reportedly denied dialysis treatment after being asked to pay in cash. Kanyore had previously used the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover his medical expenses. However, he faced difficulties following the transition of NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA), which requires patients to use the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for payments starting October 1.
Kanyore became emotional during a Citizen TV interview, expressing his distress over the situation. “I have been told to ask my people to pay Sh9,500, but I’m old and I don’t have money. I have nowhere I can borrow,” he said, tears in his eyes.
Ibrahim Alio, the SHA Director of Corporate Services, addressed Kanyore’s case, stating, “We have seen some patients who have been crying out and suffering. We followed up with the patient immediately.” He assured that Kanyore would not encounter any issues during his next treatment session, scheduled for Monday, and confirmed that the government would refund the Sh9,500 he had paid.
Kanyore’s experience resonated with many Kenyans, who reported similar challenges in accessing medical services due to the recent migration from NHIF to SHA. On October 1, 2024, the government officially launched SHA and transitioned all NHIF accounts to the new system on October 2.
The Ministry of Health announced that over 12.7 million Kenyans have registered with SHA, including those previously covered by NHIF. Health PS Harry Kimtai reported that 10,904 end users have been trained and enrolled, with their credentials processed.
Kimtai encouraged Kenyans to register and include their dependents to access healthcare services. “Registration is a continuous process and is ongoing through the USSD *147# or web-based portal on www.sha.go.ke or www.afyayangu.go.ke. We have also noted that most beneficiaries are registering but not adding their dependents,” he said.
