The Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Masika Wetang’ula Thursday directed the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health Robert Pukose (Endebess), to invite the Ministry of Health and representatives from the Social Health Authority (SHA) next week to deliberate on the challenges facing the implementation of the SHA.
This follows concerns raised by Members of Parliament about poor service delivery, ineffective communication, inadequate funding, unclear implementation frameworks, and the strained relationship between citizens and the healthcare system.
Based on discussions, Wetang’ula noted that the issues plaguing the SHA primarily revolved around poor public communication and insufficient service delivery.
“I hereby direct the Chairperson, Hon. Robert Pukose, to obtain a transcribed Hansard report of all issues raised by Members of Parliament in this session and hold a meeting with the Ministry/SHA management next week,” Wetang’ula stated.
“You will issue a comprehensive report to the House on February 11, 2025, as the House resumes session. We need a clear plan to address these challenges.”
The Speaker made these remarks on the final day of the ongoing midterm retreat for Members of Parliament in Naivasha, where Medical Services Principal Secretary, Dr. Harry Kimtai, and Social Health Authority (SHA) Board Chairman, Dr. Abdi Mohamed, called on MPs to support efforts aimed at increasing enrollment in the SHA registration campaign.
The two officials underscored the critical role of the SHA program in advancing the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
They emphasized that higher enrollment is key to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all Kenyans.
“We need your support as leaders to communicate this message to your constituents and encourage them to register and pay their premiums,” Dr. Mohamed urged the legislators.
“Your influence is crucial in bridging the gap between government initiatives and citizens.”
Dr. Mohamed also called on MPs to educate the public on the benefits of joining the program and paying premiums based on their ability to contribute.
Dr. Kimtai highlighted the transformative potential of the SHA program, noting that it could ease the financial burden of healthcare for vulnerable populations if implemented effectively.
He urged MPs to champion the program in their constituencies, positioning it as a critical step toward achieving health equity.
“This initiative is not just about healthcare; it’s about ensuring fairness and dignity for every Kenyan. We need your leadership to make this vision a reality,” the PS said.
SHA Acting CEO, Robert Ingasira, acknowledged the communication and outreach challenges but appealed to MPs to serve as goodwill ambassadors.
He highlighted that, despite setbacks, there was still room to register more Kenyans and assured that gaps in service delivery were being addressed.
“I thank all the members who worked closely with us to increase the numbers, and now we stand at 22 million registered members under the program. There is still room to register more Kenyans,” Ingasira said.
“There are challenges, but we are working tirelessly to resolve them,” he added.
Despite these efforts, the legislators quickly expressed their concerns, citing the numerous challenges still facing the program.
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