Patients decry discrimination in SHA implementation

Patients in Homa Bay have expressed concerns over discrimination in implementation of the Social Health Authority SHA.

In a fact-finding mission conducted by the Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital on Tuesday, patients alleged unfairness in SHA implementation.

The patients said those living near referral hospitals are not given medication directly using SHA unless referred from a lower-level health facility.

Nancy Anyango, whose house borders the perimeter wall of the hospital, lamented that the hospital forces her to incur transportation costs of travelling to smaller health facilities to seek referral letters.  

“I live near the county referral hospital but I cannot get medication in the hospital unless I have a referral letter from a junior hospital.  What is funny is that they can treat me without the letter if I have cash to pay. This rule escalates the cost of medication,” Awuor complained.

Ombudsman Chairman Charles Dulo took note of the shortcoming and promised to escalate it.

 “We have discovered that a person who is used to seeking medication in a referral hospital because of proximity now has to travel about 15 km away to a lower health facility. This is not fair. Incidentally, such a person is treated if he pays from his pocket. This looks discriminatory and we will advise the government accordingly,” Dulo said.

Dulo said they were still gathering more facts on implementation of SHA from different counties to enable them to write some comprehensive recommendations to the government on how to improve the insurance.

“Our preliminary findings indicate that SHA is good, but it has hitches. We will recommend to the government how to improve its implementation,” Dulo said.

However, some patients said shared success stories resulting from SHA implementation.                                                                                                               

“I have a daughter who is ailing in this hospital and SHA is helping in settling medical bills I would not have managed on my own,” said Rose Anyango, a resident of Sindo village in Suba Central Sub-county.