Health PS Harry Kimtai to Shut Down Private Hospital Boycotting SHA: "Should Not Blackmail Govt"

• On Monday, March 17, Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai regretted that some private hospitals are not complying with the Social Health Authority (SHA) regulations
• According to Kimtai, the Ministry of Health has data showing some facilities are not offering outpatient services
• Kimtai accused the facilities of blackmailing the government, adding necessary action would be taken against any hospital that fails to comply with the law

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The Ministry of Health has threatened to take action against private hospitals, refusing to comply with the Social Health Authority (SHA) regulations on outpatient services.

What PS Harry Kimtai said about SHA and private hospitals

Addressing the press on Monday, March 17, Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said it was wrong for private hospitals to refuse to provide outpatient services as outlined under the new healthcare model.

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Kimtai warned private hospitals against turning away patients seeking outpatient services.

"From the statistics and data we have seen, we have realised that most of the private facilities are not participating in outpatient services, which is primary healthcare funding," Kimtai said.

According to the Health PS, all hospitals, including private health facilities, are required by law to provide outpatient medical services to Kenyans.

Kimtai warned that the ministry might be forced to take action against non-compliant health facilities, including denial of registration and a possible shutdown.

"Private hospitals in Kenya are mandated to deliver outpatient services in accordance with the Social Health Authority (SHA) regulations, which outline specific guidelines for service provision. We have shown them the statistics and we will get to know why they are not participating. Is it because they don't understand the model?"

"If they (private hospitals) continue like this... if they are not compliant and don’t want to provide services to Kenyans, then they will have to close shop because they are also subject to licence renewal. They should not blackmail the government," the Health PS warned.

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Why did RUPHA complain about SHA?

As TUKO.co.ke reported earlier, over 600 hospitals under the Rural-Urban and Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) suspended their services to SHA.

In the move that inconvenienced many Kenyans, RUPHA cited arrears exceeding KSh 30 billion.

RUPHA chairman Brian Lishenga accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to fulfil its obligation to settle the now defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) debts.

In a statement on Thursday, February 21, Lishenga claimed that the new health authority was inefficiencies and ignorant in resolving the existing challenges.

Lishenga's report highlighted that SHA payments were outstanding at 54% of hospitals, 89% of facilities experienced SHA interface issues, and 83% struggled with patient eligibility confirmation due to SHA system errors.

RUPHA called off its boycott after President Ruto ordered the disbursement of NHIF claims under KSh 10 million.

On March 5, the president announced that hospitals with claims exceeding KSh.10 million will undergo verification within 90 days, after which a payment plan will be established.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke