SHIF to use biometric identification to curb corruption
Dr Deborah Barasa, the Cabinet Secretary for Health.
What you need to know:
- Under SHIF, there was an introduction of a One Time Pin system where hospitals use passcodes as a prerequisite for patients to access healthcare services, this has since caused delays and frustration among patients and healthcare providers.
- While biometric devices are currently available in select healthcare facilities, the government has outlined plans for a phased nationwide rollout.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is set to reintroduce biometric identification of patients to curb corruption and promote efficiency.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa emphasised that biometric verification is a critical step in eliminating fraud and ensuring that healthcare funds are used effectively.
Previously, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) implemented a biometric system at the facility level, enabling seamless and almost instant access to healthcare services. By scanning fingerprints, healthcare providers could quickly authenticate a patient’s identity, allowing real-time access to medical treatment and reducing administrative delays.
In an interview, Dr Barasa indicated that some unscrupulous healthcare providers exploited the system by misusing patients’ fingerprints to process fraudulent claims for thousands of fictitious beneficiaries. This malpractice contributed to significant resource leakage, undermining the integrity of the system.
Under SHIF, there was an introduction of a One Time Pin system where hospitals use passcodes as a prerequisite for patients to access healthcare services, this has since caused delays and frustration among patients and healthcare providers.
“We will shift back to biometric since this is the only way we can curb corruption. With NHIF, the biometrics was just at facility level and what some of the corrupt health care providers were doing, they would take their own fingerprint, which would then be used by thousands of patients within the facility,” Dr Barasa said
With SHIF, she said, the ministry is going to merge the biometric with National Registration Bureau (NRB) database to avert the leakage of resources.
While biometric devices are currently available in select healthcare facilities, the government has outlined plans for a phased nationwide rollout. The CS emphasised that this approach would not only enhance accountability but also ensure that healthcare resources are directed to the rightful beneficiaries.
“This is the only way we can curb corruption when it comes to leakage of resources. We have distributed them in a few of the facilities and we looking at further distribution and ensuring that they are working seamlessly,” she said
She adds: “As at now, we are using OTP but we will shift.”
Patients have reported delays in receiving OTPs due to technical glitches, network issues, and system inefficiencies, which disrupt the timely delivery of healthcare services, especially in facilities with high patient volumes.
“This growing inefficiency underscores the need for a more reliable and streamlined verification process to ensure patients receive timely, uninterrupted care. The system is even worse than the previous one,” said Dr Brian Lishenga, the national chairperson of the Rural-Urban Private Hospitals Association.
“The delays were a concern in high-pressure environments such as emergency departments, where time is critical,” he said.
For many Kenyans, especially those relying on public healthcare facilities, the delays mean longer queues, missed appointments, and compromised health outcomes.
“We need a responsive, efficient, and patient-centred verification system. We must ensure that no Kenyan is denied timely access to healthcare due to technical inefficiencies,” he said.
