Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr Deborah Barasa (Left) and Social Health Authority chairperson Dr Mohammed Abdi appear before the National Assembly Health Committee at the Continental House Nairobi on November 7, 2024.
Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa on Tuesday ran into trouble with parliamentarians over the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) during a meeting with members drawn from the two Houses.
In the informal meeting (Speaker’s Kamukunji), lawmakers said that the teething problems of the new system are yet to be addressed as Kenyans continue to suffer.
Sources told the Nation that while MPs were implored to champion the SHIF in their various constituencies, they complained of poor communication from the ministry over the rollout and lack of sensitisation. They were also reluctant to sell the new health system due to the resistance it has faced.
“Members raised concerns over lack of communication from the minister. She does not communicate,” said a third-term MP.
A first-term lawmaker told the Nation that most of the pertinent issues raised by the people and MPs have not been handled.
“We are clearly still in transition. Registration is still a problem as the system is slowing down,” the MP said.
The MPs revealed that they had been asked to use their offices to explain the system to their constituents to reduce the resistance it has been facing.
Preach the SHA gospel
Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka confirmed that they were urged to preach the SHA gospel to the people.
“There was a clarion call from the ministry and leadership to preach the ‘gospel’ to as many people as possible. People clearly need to understand the categories and benefits as compared to NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund),” he said.
He explained that the meeting was meant to appraise members of the new system, which he admitted even the lawmakers do not clearly understand.
“Majority of MPs seem not to understand SHIF, like what is the means testing instrument used by the ministry, registration, packages available and the various aspects of contributions,” Mr Musyoka said.
Speaking during the meeting, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said the session was meant to communicate and clarify issues so that MPs, in their communication, do not confuse the public further.
“The team from the ministry wants to communicate to you on UHC (universal health coverage) rollout, progress on the SHA (Social Health Authority) registration progress, benefits package and applicable tariffs and the means testing tool,” Mr Wetang’ula said.
“I believe that as leaders, you can use your offices to support the process of registration of wananchi who probably have not been told whether the registration costs money or not,” he added.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said: “We need to understand in detail so that when the people come to us as leaders with questions, we can answer them without a doubt. There are some things that have not reached the people if up to now they have not registered because they think they are charged an amount.”
Faced some problems
Dr Barasa admitted to the lawmakers that the system has faced some problems but assured them that they are now on the right track to provide affordable and quality healthcare to all Kenyans.
“Yes we have faced a bit of turbulence but now we are confident that we will reach our destiny of Vision 2030 having achieved affordable, quality care for all Kenyans,” she said.
“There are many patients out there that are told to go home because they cannot afford Sh200,000 ... let us look at the bigger picture; affordable, accessible quality care for all Kenyans, leaving no one behind, that is what we are pushing for and we need your support,” she added.
Although the CS informed the lawmakers that employees of the defunct NHIF have been moved to public service for a period of six months, their fate was not clear after that period.
The consultative meeting, was convened by Speaker Wetang’ula in order to address concerns raised by the public and parliamentarians.
