Julius Kiprop
- Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Barasa reaffirms the government’s commitment to settling pending bills owed to healthcare facilities under the new Social Health Authority (SHA).
- She confirmed that Sh5 billion of the Sh19 billion owed has been paid, with another Sh2.5 billion set to be disbursed soon.
- Barasa also emphasized the importance of decentralizing healthcare services, addressing shortages of healthcare specialists, and ensuring equitable access to care.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Barasa has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to paying off the outstanding healthcare bills owed to facilities under the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), now operating under the Social Health Authority (SHA). During a visit to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOORTH) in Kisumu, Barasa shared updates on SHA’s rollout and the payment of pending bills.
Barasa confirmed that Sh5 billion out of the Sh19 billion owed to healthcare facilities has already been paid. She added that Sh2.5 billion more will be disbursed by the end of the week. Public health facilities, including JOORTH, are receiving priority, with further payments under SHA set to start by the end of November.
Barasa praised JOORTH for its progress as a Level 6(A) hospital but acknowledged challenges in ensuring that radiotherapy services are equally distributed across the country. She emphasized the need to decentralize such services to reduce the concentration in Nairobi.
The CS also addressed the shortage of healthcare specialists and assured the public that the government would intervene to fill the gaps. Barasa highlighted SHA’s referral mechanism, which helps direct patients to the right level of care before being referred to higher facilities.
Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare for expectant mothers at Levels 2, 3, and 4 facilities. Barasa assured that no one would be denied care as long as they are registered with SHA, regardless of their financial situation.
In closing, Barasa called on political leaders, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to support the SHA by encouraging Kenyans to register for the program. She reiterated the Ministry of Health’s commitment to expanding healthcare capacity, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that all Kenyans have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.
