- Social Health Authority has introduced overseas medical treatment under its insurance programme
- Only patients needing highly specialised care unavailable in Kenya will qualify
- Applications for foreign referrals will be submitted through a digital portal launching within 72 hours
- All cases must first be assessed and approved by local medical experts
- The move supports Kenya’s push toward universal health coverage and stronger referral systems
Kenyan patients requiring advanced medical care abroad will soon receive support under the national insurance scheme after the Social Health Authority announced a major expansion of its benefits package.
The programme is designed to assist patients whose conditions cannot be treated within the country, marking a significant step in improving access to specialised healthcare services.
Under the new framework, only patients who meet strict medical and administrative requirements will qualify for treatment outside Kenya.
Each case will first undergo evaluation in local hospitals to confirm that the required procedure is not available within the national health system.
Doctors will be required to provide clinical justification before any referral is approved, ensuring that only genuine and critical cases are considered for overseas care.
The authority confirmed that a dedicated online system for overseas treatment requests will be launched within 72 hours.
Through the platform, patients and healthcare providers will be able to submit applications electronically, speeding up the approval process and reducing delays in urgent cases.
Officials say the system will also help improve coordination between hospitals and the insurance body, making the referral process more efficient.
To ensure accountability, only pre-approved international hospitals will be allowed to handle referred patients under the programme.
The system is expected to include strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse and ensure transparency in all overseas medical arrangements.
Health officials have stressed that the initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s referral network and improving service delivery.
The new policy is seen as part of Kenya’s ongoing effort to strengthen Universal Health Coverage by reducing reliance on public fundraising for complex medical cases.
Authorities believe the initiative will ease the financial burden on families while ensuring patients have access to life-saving procedures that are not locally available.
More details on eligible illnesses, partner hospitals, and funding limits are expected once the system is fully rolled out and operational.
