According to the Senior Presidential Economic Council advisor, Moses Kuria, the Zambian and Egyptian governments are benchmarking the country's Social Health Insurance (SHA) scheme.
Speaking in Nandi County on Tuesday, April 1, Kuria said that a delegation from the Zambian government visited the country two weeks ago to learn about the programme, and another delegation from Egypt is expected to arrive next week for the same.
Kuria expressed optimism that President William Ruto would be awarded the Nobel Prize for launching the programme, which he labelled a huge success.
"The Taifa Care is for every Kenyan, not a particular individual, and that is why I am very passionate about the programme. Two weeks ago, the Zambian government sent a delegation to come and benchmark how we are conducting our healthcare programmes, and also Egypt will be here next week to see what we are doing," he said.
"We are used to our government officials going abroad to benchmark, but now they are also coming to us. I do not doubt in my mind that this Taifa Care will be number one, and I'm sure that President Ruto will be given next year's Nobel Prize," he added.
According to Kuria, the government aims to enrol 40 million people by the end of the year to propel the country towards the Universal Health Care (UHC) goal.
"In my opinion, we will manage to enrol 40 million people in SHA this year. And that is to say that everyone will be in, and it will be much better to ask questions when we are onboard," he said.
So far, according to the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, a total of 20.8 million Kenyans have registered with the SHA, along with 5.7 million of their dependents, with Mombasa, Bomet, Nyeri, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Kirinyaga leading the race.
Furthermore, according to the CS, a total of Ksh 25.4 billion has been paid by SHA to the empanelled and contracted health facilities.
"Payment out of the Social Health Insurance Fund stood at Ksh 22.2 billion, and payments out of the Primary Healthcare Fund stood at Ksh 3.2 billion," the CS said during a press briefing on Tuesday, April 1.
Duale further directed that all SHA claims owed to hospitals be paid by the 14th of every month to address the grievances raised by healthcare service providers across the country.
He also cautioned that healthcare facilities that will be found employing quack professionals will not be paid their SHA claims.
"Moving forward, SHA will settle hospital claims by the 14th of every month, ensuring financial stability for healthcare providers," Duale affirmed.
