The Social Health Authority (SHA), on Monday, released a comprehensive list of all healthcare facilities already contracted by the government to offer services to Kenyans registered with SHA.
After a week of confusion raging through the country among Kenyans suffering from chronic illnesses like renal diseases and cancer, this new development is a breath of fresh air for all who have already registered for the new health scheme or have been automatically transitioned from NHIF.
For those whose primary healthcare facility is government-owned, they can seamlessly get healthcare services from all level 2 to level 6 hospitals as the roll-out has already been incorporated fully.
However, to confirm if your health facility is included in this comprehensive list. Kenyans can visit https://sha.go.ke/resources/categories/2.
The list, which is segregated into 4 main categories including contracted County GOK healthcare facilities lists a staggering 4760 public health facilities that can offer services, from dispensaries to teaching and referral hospitals in all 47 counties.
Having initially caused a flurry of confusion amongst Kenyans living with chronic illnesses being denied care in several hospitals, the Ministry of Health has also categorised renal diseases and cancer care centres separately.
The cancer care centres listed are 53 across 20 counties with a whopping 14 based in Nairobi City while renal disease facilities listed are 180 spread across all the 47 counties.
As for the Private and Faith-based facilities, the controversy surrounding them kicked off the same day the roll-out started leaving several stranded with the private hospitals saying that they had been left with no option but to turn away patients as they had not received any contracts with the government yet.
After a public uproar, especially following viral videos of chronic patients in need of critical care like dialysis being turned away from private hospitals despite having been up-to-date with their SHA payments, they announced that 1577 private facilities had already been contracted.
However, SHA itself debunked these claims noting that some of the facilities listed were duplicated and the actual number was 1442 in a press release dated October 6, a fact that can be confirmed from the website.
To further ease Kenyans’ tensions, the press release informed Kenyans that the authority has reached an agreement with private and faith-based facilities that have yet to sign contracts that they will continue to offer services to patients until the signed contracts are returned.
They have until October 8 to submit said contracts and all expenses incurred by patients until then will be duly paid.
