In a major boost to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Ministry of Health has increased benefits under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to improve healthcare access and restore public confidence in the new system.
In a Wednesday statement, the ministry announced a sixfold increase in High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) coverage, raising the amount from Ksh.4,600 to Ksh.28,000. According to Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, this measure aims to shield patients from out-of-pocket expenses for critical care services.
Additionally, the oncology care package has been expanded from Ksh.400,000 to Ksh.550,000 per household, making cancer treatment more affordable for Kenyan families.
Addressing SHA Challenges
Since its rollout five months ago, SHA has faced systemic challenges that have hindered service delivery. The ministry is implementing key reforms to resolve these issues, including:
- Integration of 15 high-volume hospitals into the Health Information Exchange (HIE) system to facilitate seamless patient data sharing.
- Establishment of a 24-hour call center to offer real-time assistance to patients and healthcare providers.
- Nationwide training on claims processing to enhance efficiency and ensure timely payments to health facilities.
- Implementation of a claim-tracking dashboard for hospitals and county governments to monitor payments in real time.
The ministry has assured Kenyans that these interventions will enhance service delivery and ensure the SHA functions effectively in delivering quality, accessible healthcare.
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