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Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, has announced that the first phase of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will be rolled out by the end of November, covering Level II, III, and selected Level IV hospitals across the country. CS Deborah Barasa speaking in Homa Bay during the commemoration of World Prematurity Day.
This initiative aims to enhance hospital capacity by improving human resources and equipment, ensuring smooth operations at these facilities. How will mothers benefit from SHIF? In her address during the World Prematurity Day commemoration at Homa Bay’s Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) on Monday, November 18, Barasa emphasised that SHIF would provide care for premature babies—services not previously covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
She explained that the new fund would cover antenatal, delivery, and postnatal services at lower-level hospitals, with the option to access care for premature baby complications at higher-level facilities for as little as KSh 300. “At levels II, III, and selected level IV hospitals, you will receive antenatal, delivery, and postnatal services. While in higher levels, with small contributions of as low as KSh 300, you could also receive any other care for complications of premature babies,” Barasa said in the event attended by TUKO.co.ke.
Why Kenyans should register with SHIF? Barasa also urged the public, especially the G7 fraternity and mothers, to actively register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ensure they benefit from the services. She praised the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) for leading SHA registration campaigns at the grassroots level. Patrick Amoth, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, echoed Barasa’s sentiments, highlighting that SHA registration would provide access to timely healthcare, with minimal payments required at higher-level facilities.
“If you register on SHA, you get free treatment even before payment. Only a little payment of KSh 300 is required for those acquiring healthcare at higher levels,” he expressed. Amoth reassured that the government would cover the cost of treatment for the underprivileged.
by Florence Owiti Nancy Odindo
