The Ministry of Health is requesting an additional Ksh.6 billion in the supplementary budget to enhance the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency and Chronic Illness Fund under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee, Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai justified the budget allocation. It emphasized increased funding to strengthen SHA and other healthcare initiatives.

Kimtai highlighted ongoing revisions to SHA benefits, with a gazette notice already submitted to raise oncology coverage from Ksh. 400,000 to Ksh. 550,000. “When you pay your premiums and receive cancer treatment at Level 4, 5, or 6 hospitals, your benefit is now Ksh.550,000, up from the previous Ksh.400,000,” he clarified.

SHA has registered 20.2 million Kenyans, prompting a request for an additional Ksh.3 billion to support free primary healthcare at Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals. He also confirmed that SHA contracts public and private healthcare providers, ensuring accessibility for all registered members.

During the session, Health Committee Vice-Chair Patrick Munene raised concerns about payment transparency to healthcare providers. Unlike NHIF, SHA does not provide clear visibility into individual payments, making accountability difficult. In response, SHA Acting CEO Robert Ngasira pledged to publish payment details for healthcare providers to enhance transparency.

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Kimtai reassured the committee that the government is addressing SHA’s operational challenges and will continue adjusting benefits based on available funds.

However, Treasury officials faced criticism over delays in disbursing allocated funds, affecting service delivery.