The Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya (FIDA Kenya) on Monday called out the government over the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
In a statement to the press, the Federation of Lawyers Kenya Chapter raised key concerns about the challenges arising from the transition from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
While championing women's rights, FIDA-Kenya noted that the ongoing shift has exposed glaring systemic gaps, negatively affecting access to equitable and affordable care for many Kenyans.
According to them, this state of affairs is contrary to Article 43 of Kenya's Constitution which guarantees every person the right to health, and access to medical services.
“The rollout of SHIF has been plagued by confusion, lack of public awareness, and inadequate health system preparedness. Many Kenyans remain uninformed about changes to healthcare access, with facilities refusing to offer services, patients detained over bills, and chronic illness treatments disrupted,” FIDA shared.
According to FIDA, these issues impact vulnerable populations, especially persons with disabilities, minorities, and those living in poverty.
They called on the government to put in place measures to ensure seamless access to Medicare. “We urge the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to prioritize the development of clear operational guidelines and communication strategies to ensure seamless access to healthcare,” FIDA appealed.
The women layers further called on sensitisation campaigns targeting healthcare professionals, and facilities to restore trust and transparency.
“Pending NHIF claims must be swiftly settled to enable facilities to operate and transition smoothly. This will prevent further out-of-pocket expenses that have left many Kenyans in financial distress,” FIDA added.
According to FIDA, urgent clarity is needed regarding critical services that have been inadequately addressed under SHIF. They also noted the ongoing digitalisation of health records should be done with care to ensure no one is left behind.
“Meanwhile, SHA should operationalize feedback mechanisms and reimbursement systems for patients forced to make out-of-pocket payments since October. Emergency access, as guaranteed under Article 43(2) of the Constitution, must be safeguarded with clear exceptions and extended time limits where necessary,” the Federation demanded.
Similarly, FIDA proposed the establishment of the Social Health Insurance Dispute Resolution Tribunal to resolve grievances effectively.
