The Social Health Authority (SHA) is a State corporation under the Government of Kenya responsible for the provision and management of public health insurance within the Republic of Kenya.[1] The core mandate of the SHA is to provide accessible, affordable, sustainable, and quality health insurance for all Kenyan citizens and, where applicable, foreign residents.

The SHA replaced the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) through the enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 on 22 November 2023 and began its operations on 1 October 2024.[2]

History

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) was established in 1966 as a department within the Ministry of Health through the National Health Insurance Act, and it served as Kenya's primary public health insurer for over five decades.[3]

On 22 November 2023, the Parliament of Kenya enacted the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, aimed at reforming Kenya’s public health insurance system.[4] Under this law, public health insurance was restructured into three distinct schemes:

  • The Primary Healthcare Fund, which covers primary and preventive healthcare services.
  • The Social Health Insurance Fund, which provides inpatient and outpatient services.
  • The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, designed to cover emergency medical services and chronic illnesses.[5]

The NHIF and its governing act were repealed, and the SHA was established to manage these three schemes while ensuring the sustainability and expansion of public health insurance coverage.[6]

Structure and Governance

The SHA operates under the Ministry of Health and is overseen by a board of directors, appointed by the government. The Authority is mandated to work with various stakeholders, including county governments, private sector partners, and international health organizations, to ensure universal health coverage (UHC).[7]

Objectives

The key objectives of the SHA include:

  • Ensuring all Kenyans have access to quality healthcare services.
  • Reducing financial barriers to medical treatment.
  • Expanding health insurance coverage, especially for vulnerable populations.
  • Strengthening health system financing and sustainability.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Social Health Authority · SHA". sha.go.ke. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  2. ^ "NHIF to be replaced by SHA from October". Business Daily Africa. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  3. ^ "The history of NHIF in Kenya". National Health Insurance Fund. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  4. ^ "Parliament passes Social Health Insurance Act to replace NHIF". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  5. ^ "What you need to know about Kenya's new Social Health Insurance". Standard Media. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  6. ^ "NHIF scrapped, replaced by Social Health Authority". The Star. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  7. ^ "Social Health Authority Structure". Ministry of Health Kenya. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  8. ^ "New health insurance law to make healthcare affordable". Capital FM Kenya. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hospital_Insurance_Fund
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