The Social Health Authority (SHA) Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Mwangangi, has gazetted the suspension of 45 hospitals under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
In a notice dated August 26, the Mwangangi relayed that the hospitals would not receive any SHA payments during the suspension period, although she did not clarify how long the suspension would be.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 48 (6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, the Social Health Authority hereby gives notice to the public of the suspension of the health facilities set out in the Schedule below," the notice read in part.
"In accordance with the provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act, the health facilities set out in the Schedule shall not be entitled to any benefit from the Social Health Authority during the period of their suspension."
The hospitals were drawn from several counties, with the North Eastern, Nyanza, and Western regions accounting for the largest numbers.
Nairobi county had just one facility, namely Novic Medical Centre, suspended.
In Mandera, 10 hospitals, namely, Aasif Medical and Health Service Limited, Ayale Medical and Nursing Home, Desertview Healthcare Services, Equity Afia Mandera, Kal Health Nursing Home, Mama Ebla Nursing Home, Sanaag Medical Centre, Tabsam Medical Centre, Wante Nursing Home and Zonal Annexe and Maternity were suspended.
In Garissa, Al-Baitul Tiiba Hospital, Garissa Doctors Clinic and Northgate Hospital Ltd were suspended, while in Wajir, Abakore Nursing Home and Artan Medical Centre were suspended.
Another county that registered a significant number of interdictions was Kisii, with seven facilities, including Filyne Chima Hospital Ltd, Gopima Medical Centre Ltd, Lenmek Healthcare Annex Magenche, Lenmek Hospital Limited, New Hope Nursing Home- Kisii, Nyanchwa Adventist Mission Hospital and Westlife Hospital Ltd suspended.
Homa Bay County had five suspended, including Chala Health Services Ltd, Equity Afia-Homa Bay, Lifenest Community Medical Centre, Nelepek Medical Care Centre and Okitta Nursing.
Neighbouring Kisumu had two, Abala Healthcare Limited and Nyabondo Centre For The Disabled - Kisumu (Fbo), and Migori County had Neocare Memorial Hospital suspended.
In Bungoma County, two facilities, including Chemwaa Health Centre and Grassroot Community Healthcare Ltd, were suspended, as in Kakamega, which had Aspro Medecol Solutions and The Tranquil Hospital suspended.
Narok, Kajiado, Meru, Kirinyaga and Uasin Gishu Counties each had one facility suspended, namely Akemo Valley Maternity and Nursing Home, Namanga Nursing Home, Guardian Hospital - Meru, Kimathi Medical Services Karaba and Palmcare Sinai Hospital, respectively.
Notably, the majority of the hospitals suspended were private healthcare facilities across the country.
However, facilities that have courted controversy since the list was released, including Nyandiwa Level 4 Hospital, which was being accused of being a 'ghost' hospital, and Ladnan Hospital, which had been suspected of belonging to the SHA chairperson Abdi Mohamed, were not mentioned in the list.
