Early this week on 22nd November 2023, the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Act 2023 came into operation following its gazettement by the CS of Health CS Susan Nakhumicha
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is the body that the SHI Act has vested powers to operationalize and run Social Health Insurance that manages the three funds.
His Excellency William Samoei Ruto in his wisdom and in the same gazette notice has appointed Dr. Timothy Olweny as Chairperson of the SHA.
Timothy is an amiable colleague and is an active member of Nakuru Division – Kenya Medical Association who most importantly pays his subscriptions in time. He is in good standing at KMA.
Prior to the national elections last year, Dr Olweny and I were invited to make presentations that would go into the manifesto of UDA. I made the first presentation on the Health Service Commission. Dr Olweny made submissions with his long experience in running a private facility and interaction with the insurance sector and being in leadership Kenya Association of Private Hospitals – KAPH. It was wonderful to see both our inputs in the UDA manfesto.
Mr President, appointment of Dr Timothy Olweny is a step in the right direction towards achieving UHC.
As we await the appointment of a representative from Kenya Medical Association, the CS Health CS Susan Wafula Nakhumichia also made three appointments to the SHA.
One excellent appointment that she made was that of Dr. Zakayo Kariuki Gichuki. Dr. Zakayo is a colleague and member of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society and also a member of good standing with KMA Nakuru Division – Kenya Medical Association Dr. Gichuki has been instrumental in the prudent utilization of FIF in Nakuru County that has seen health services there continuously improve in leaps and bounds. His expertise and experience will be required in SHA.
Implications of SHA
- With commencement of SHA, NHIF KENYA will cease to exist in one years time i.e. October 2024. The implications of this continue to elicit debate in the health circles. Health facilities and health workforce have been having challenges with NHIF debts. Their wish is to see NHIF pay up all its pending dues before being wound down.
- Salaried workforce should expect extra charges to their pay slips. The exact amounts are not known but there was talk of 2.75% of the gross salaries. Regulations are currently being written. KMA generally supports a tax-funded UHC, but should the percentage be applied, KMA proposes a cap on the amount.
- The Act proposes that the government pays for those who may be unable to afford. The Act proposed an assessment for this using a method called ‘MEANS TEST’ where marks are awarded against a set criterion. The operationalization of this should be interesting.
- The Act proposes to abolish some of the benefits that Civil Servants had and the Unions have their work cut out as the balance between Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and operationalization of the act. They will have their striker, the one and only ATWOLI to discuss with. Atwoli is the unions representative in the SHA.
All in all as Kenya Medical Association we congratulate Dr. Timothy Olweny and Dr. Zakayo Kariuki Gichuki on their appointments. They have their work cut out but their qualifications and experience are already a good start.