MPs fault Ministry of Health over SHA hitches, vow to protect faith-based hospitals

The National Assembly Health Committee has raised concerns over persistent failures in the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), warning that continued system breakdowns risk crippling service delivery across the country.

Speaking during a fact-finding visit to St. Mary’s Hospital in Mumias, the lawmakers said Kenyans are struggling to access services despite being registered in the new scheme. 

They urged the Ministry of Health to address delays in claims processing, stalled automation, and the abrupt closure of some facilities, insisting that reforms must not come at the expense of patients.

Led by Seme MP James Nyikal, the committee vowed to demand accountability from the Ministry, noting that it should not take more than a month to see improvements if the recommendations are acted upon.

“We must ensure that even as changes are made, Kenyans continue to get services in public, private, and faith-based hospitals. Closing facilities punishes patients, not those responsible for mistakes,” said Dr. Nyikal.

Members of the committee also criticized the manner in which the now defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) system was phased out, leaving hospitals stranded with unpaid arrears and no clear points of contact.

They likened SHA to “a new wife in the home” whose behavior still needs to be understood, warning that overreliance on automated systems without human support was locking out patients.

The legislators further lauded the role of faith-based hospitals such as St. Mary’s, St. Elizabeth Mukumu, and others, saying they have for decades provided affordable, high-quality care to vulnerable communities.