SHA rollout: CS Barasa admits challenges in Asal counties
Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah Barasa addresses journalists at Afya House in Nairobi on January 15, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Dr Barasa said Samburu, Marsabit, Turkana and Isiolo counties were lagging behind due to socioeconomic and infrastructural challenges.
- The government remains optimistic that SHIF will bridge the healthcare gap in underserved regions, ensuring universal healthcare access.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has admitted that the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in arid and semi-arid lands (Asals) has faced significant challenges, including low registration rates, system glitches and logistical barriers.
Despite SHIF’s nationwide launch in October 2024, many residents in Asal counties, which occupy over 70 per cent of Kenya's land mass, remain unregistered limiting their access to affordable healthcare.
“We have noticed that Asal areas have significantly low registration rates. Distance, poor network connectivity and lack of awareness have hindered the process," Dr Barasa said on Monday.
She added that while SHIF implementation has progressed well in urban areas, counties such as Samburu, Marsabit, Turkana and Isiolo were lagging behind due to socioeconomic and infrastructural challenges.
The CS acknowledged growing concerns over persistent technical failures on the Social Health Authority (SHA) platform, which have left many patients struggling with out-of-pocket medical expenses.
“System challenges are not new even in the best healthcare systems globally. Waiting times can be long and system interruptions occur. We acknowledge this and are working on solutions,” Dr Barasa stated.
The minister revealed that new servers were being installed to improve efficiency and eliminate frequent system disruptions.
“We are confident that the new servers will resolve the challenges that users have been facing,” she said.
Despite these setbacks, the government remains optimistic that SHIF will bridge the healthcare gap in underserved regions, ensuring universal healthcare access.
Amid these challenges, Samburu County has taken a major step in healthcare advancement with the launch of its first-ever oncology clinic at the Samburu County Referral Hospital.
Dr Barasa who inaugurated the facility said it would “bring cancer care services closer to patients in this semi-arid region,” reducing the need for long, expensive trips to Nairobi or Nakuru for diagnosis and treatment.
For years, Samburu’s pastoralist communities have struggled with access to specialised healthcare due to the county’s vast geography and limited medical infrastructure.
As a result, many cancer cases have gone undiagnosed or are detected too late, leading to high fatality rates.
The oncology clinic is expected to change this by offering early screening and treatment for cancer patients closer to home.
The well-equipped facility will be managed by trained medical personnel and is expected to ease the cost of treatment for cancer patients in Samburu.
“No one should have to travel for days just to receive a cancer diagnosis or treatment. This clinic will significantly ease the burden on patients who previously had to seek cancer medication outside the county,” Dr Barasa said.
Cancer cases in Samburu and neighbouring counties have been rising due to lifestyle changes, environmental factors and late diagnoses.
The most common cancers reported in the region according to the Ministry of Health include esophageal, cervical, and breast cancers.
Samburu Health Executive Nassir Lekudere Leonard welcomed the clinic as a crucial development in reversing this trend.
“We urge our people to embrace cancer screening and seek early medical intervention. This clinic will save lives,” Dr Lekudere said.
To ensure that residents take full advantage of the oncology services, the county has engaged local community health promoters to raise awareness and educate people on the importance of regular check-ups.
Community health workers will also help bridge cultural barriers that often prevent people from seeking early diagnosis and treatment.
“The fear and stigma surrounding cancer have kept many people from seeking help until it is too late. Our goal is to change this narrative by promoting early detection,” Dr Lekudere said.
Gondieki@ke.nationmedia.com
