The Council of Governors (CoG) has given its unequivocal support for the Social Health Authority, saying it is working perfectly well, calling on Kenyans to register in large numbers.
CoG chairperson Governor Ahmed Abdulahi of Wajir
CoG chair Ahmed Abdulahi has said SHA, which is now two months into its implementation, has been felt in the county hospitals with many accessing services.
He was giving an example of a person who got an approved kes. 336,000 for hip replacement in Wajir, Governor Ahmed said the case is one in many instances where Kenyans have accessed services in hospitals and told of the benefits therein.
Speaking at the launch of the financial management and procedures manual for county health spending units – a document that is tailored to guiding how county-run health facilities will raise and spend resources through the Facilities Improvement Financing, Governor Ahmed said the negative talk against SHA/SHIF was guided by misinformation
Consequently, Governor Ahmed has called on Kenyans to register in numbers, noting that it is crucial for access to healthcare services, especially now that NHIF is defunct.
However, the CoG chair has called on the National Government to expeditiously address the remaining challenges, raising concerns about the full implementation.
On her part, Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni, who also graced the occasion, said the government was working closely with health institutions to understand the existing challenges and fix them as they arise to onboard as many Kenyans as possible to the health plan.
Two months on, 14 million Kenyans have registered for SHA
On the manual, Governor Ahmed has pushed for autonomy for county hospitals run by CEOs as the launched manual provides adequate information, also noting, that they should carry the accountability responsibility as they fully are in charge of resources raised and spent at the county
PS Mary says most health institution managers should get training to understand and run them fully.
The CoG has also called on the National Government to adopt the launched manual and standardize it instead of spending resources to come up with a different manual
