The Cabinet Secretary of Health, Susan Nakhumicha has elaborated that the government will pay for pharmaceutical refills, dental services and assistive devices under the Social Health Insurance Fund.
Speaking on Monday during a stakeholder forum, Nakhumicha stated that there would be an allowance for patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes to have refills from listed community pharmacies.
She elaborated that the patients who are required to always have drugs with prescriptions can be able to refill them from specified pharmacies under the new cover.
“If you have a chronic illness prescription, a patient of diabetes who takes their medication throughout, instead of going back to the specialist, and you have a prescription, you can go to a listed community pharmacy and receive a refill,” stated Nakhumicha.
Additionally, assistive devices such as hearing aids and spectacles will also be covered under the primary cover of the SHA, unlike the NHIF which required one to have an enhanced cover.
Further, the basic cover of the SHIF will also pay for dental services which were not initially covered by NHIF unless through the enhanced cover.
The CS further elaborated that households can access an end-of-life cover which will cater to services such as mortuary fees under the cover.
According to the CS, the end-of-life cover is meant to assist Kenyans in alleviating the burden of send-offs for their family members.
Mental wellness services will also be covered under the new program allowing Kenyans to have screening for mental health illnesses.
Under the wellness cover, the government will also undertake screening services for chronic illnesses such as diabetes to facilitate early detection.
However, despite the new benefits listed, they may be suspended once a Kenyan fails to remit their required amount to the Authority.
As detailed by the Social Health Authority (SHA), the suspension will only be lifted once an individual resumes their payments.
