The Social Health Authority (SHA) on Wednesday elaborated that the National Health Insurance Fund would continue to discharge financial services for health services.
This is following a recent High Court ruling which suspended the dispensing of services by the newly instituted Social Health Insurance Fund.
“Pending the lifting of the Court orders and within the 45-day-stay order period, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) services will continue to be availed to all paid-up and eligible members," read the statement in part.
According to the statement by the SHA, the continuation of the service through NHIF's existing framework will ensure that there is no gap in health financing.
Further while addressing concerns within the health sector, SHA explained that the NHIF would continue to foot the bills in health facilities as per previous contractual agreements.
“We want to reassure you that all NHIF obligations will be honoured as per existing contracts with service providers and Fund members," stated SHA.
However, despite the discharging of funds being delegated back to the NHIF, SHA has continued to push for the registration of Kenyans to SHIF.
“All preparatory activities necessary to ensure the success of SHA will continue to be undertaken in tandem with the efforts to ensure full compliance with the Court orders,” read the statement.
According to the SHA, activities such as membership registration, validation of the benefit packages, engagement of health facilities for contracting, and market sensitization, including public education, to facilitate effective public participation, will continue as scheduled.
This notice comes after the High Court on Friday, July 12, suspended the ruling for 45 days hours after announcing that the fund was unconstitutional.
According to the judges, the suspension came after the office of the Attorney General raised concerns of confusion in the health sector.
The AG's office argued that repealing the fund would create a void in the health sector which would affect a majority of Kenyans.
