Patients seeking services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) at private hospitals will have to pay cash from Monday 24th February 2025.
The Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has declared an indefinite suspension of SHA services from Monday due to unpaid arrears dating back to 2017.
Speaking in Nairobi, RUPHA Chairperson Dr. Brian Lishenga 54 percent of hospitals had not received payments from SHA while 89 percent had reported SHA portal failures.
“SHA transition is now directly endangering the quality and sustainability of care in our hospitals. This decision has not been made lightly, it follows months of failed engagements, unfulfilled promises, and growing financial distress among hospitals. It now threatens the very survival of these hospitals,” said Dr. Lishenga.
The association also decried an unworkable outpatient reimbursement model and difficulties in verifying patient eligibility due to SHA system glitches.
Meanwhile, teachers and police officers will be left without quality healthcare services as RUPHA will no longer provide care under the Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MAKL) which handles medical schemes for police and teachers.
The Association demands that the government settle sh.30 billion in NHIF arrears in full payment, to revise and streamline the SHA outpatient reimbursement model and ensure timely payment under MAKL.