The government has issued a stern warning to health facilities enlisted under the new Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme that have been accused of refusing services to patients.

Medical Services Principal Secretary (PS) Harry Kimtai stated that hospitals demanding cash from poor Kenyans, despite the system being operational, risk being blacklisted.

Speaking to health stakeholders in Mombasa on Tuesday, PS Kimtai said that the government has noticed some private health facilities deliberately avoiding the use of the new system.

These facilities are still charging patients registered under the Social Health Assurance scheme, which is designed to offer financial relief to low-income citizens. 

“Those who are giving us excuses that the system is not working properly are using flimsy reasons. We will publish the names of these facilities so that Kenyans know which ones are demanding cash upfront,” said Mr Kimtai.

This warning comes shortly after President William Ruto called on private hospitals to complete their enrollment in the social health insurance programme. 

So far, 50 percent of private facilities are participating, but many of them have been accused of denying services to registered Kenyans, creating further frustration among patients.

Since the rollout of the new health care system three weeks ago, there has been public dissatisfaction as patients report being forced to pay out of pocket, especially in cases where the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) previously provided coverage. 

The government is facing mounting pressure to address these challenges, with reports that some hospitals only use the system for specific treatments, such as dialysis, while ignoring it for others.

To ensure the successful implementation of the new system, the government has established 47 County Technical Steering Committees tasked with inspecting over 7,000 health facilities registered under the social health authority. 

These inspections will be led by County Commissioners and County Health Executive members to guarantee that the facilities are adhering to the new health care protocols.

With an additional Sh1.5 billion released last week, the government has promised a further Sh3 billion to settle debts owed to health facilities.

PS Kimtai assured that pending bills will be cleared within 90 days to ensure uninterrupted services for patients in the future.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to streamline the health care system and provide equitable access to medical services for all citizens.