The much-hyped Sustainable Health Insurance (SHA) program, launched last year to replace the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), has descended into chaos, leaving countless Kenyans stranded and unable to access critical medical care.
A recent incident saw a group of women storming the office of the Health Cabinet Secretary, enraged by the complete breakdown of the SHA system. They recounted harrowing experiences at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where they had been languishing for over 24 hours, only to be met with the disheartening news that their SHA coverage was not functioning.
This isn't an isolated incident. Reports of patients being turned away, discharged without treatment, and left waiting endlessly have become commonplace since the SHA system experienced a major outage last Wednesday. A desperate father, whose child had swallowed a coin, has been waiting for medical attention at KNH for over a day, highlighting the severe and immediate consequences of this system failure.
NHIF, the previous insurer, has washed its hands of the matter, citing its inability to assist patients due to the transfer of the portal to the SHA system. This leaves patients caught in a bureaucratic limbo, suffering due to a government initiative that was supposed to improve their access to healthcare.
The questions now are: Is this a deliberate failure by the government? Is the Health Cabinet Secretary asleep at the wheel? Why implement a system that so clearly cannot serve the very citizens it was designed to protect?
Kenyans are paying exorbitant premiums for this SHA coverage, only to find themselves denied the very care they are entitled to. This is a blatant betrayal of public trust and a serious indictment of the government's ability to deliver on its promises.
The current situation demands immediate and decisive action. The government must; Acknowledge the severity of the crisis: Publicly apologize to the affected patients and assure Kenyans that the situation will be rectified swiftly. Restore system functionality: Prioritize the immediate restoration of the SHA system to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare for all citizens. Investigate the root cause of the failure: Conduct a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind the system's collapse and hold those responsible accountable. Provide adequate compensation: Compensate patients who have suffered due to the system's failure and ensure they receive the necessary medical care.
The government has a duty to protect the health and well-being of its citizens. The current SHA debacle is a grave failure that cannot be ignored. It is time for the government to step up, take responsibility, and ensure that this essential public service is restored and improved for the benefit of all Kenyans.
