Senators take on Barasa over SHA failures, demand value for money

Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa addresses the media at Afya House, Nairobi on January 15, 2025. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa Wednesday came under attack from senators who accused her of failing to address concerns on the Social Health Authority (SHA), exposing patients to suffering.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah wondered why Kenyans were paying so much for healthcare yet the services were still wanting.

“There is not country in the world that has effectively implemented Universal Health Care that is funded through premiums but through taxes. Kenya is a signatory to the Abuja declaration, when did we turn away from this and make citizens pay for this,” said Omtatah.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey weighed in, demanding answers on the death of baby Aliana Wairimu, whose SHA only paid Sh23,000 of her Sh1.6 million hospital bill.

Cherarkey sought to know whether the Primary Health Care Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund were functional, pointing out that the ministry has left President William Ruto struggling to sell the new scheme.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu wondered how the ministry would claim it was not aware of Baby Aliana’s case, adding that what SHA paid was too little given the parents had spent over Sh10 million for treatment in India

Methu accused the CS of taking the House in circles. The CS defended the agency, saying they were yet to get communication on the case.

Keep Reading

“I would like to inform the house that SHA has not received an invoice from the hospital that was treating Baby Aliana and that once it is done, payments will be done as per the set guidelines. I would like to promise Senators that justice will be done.”

She promised to have a retreat with the Senate Health Committee to address various issues raised.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said many families were still struggling to raise money for treatment despite employed Kenyans contributing 2.75 per cent of their monthly.

Dr Barasa came up with the defence the new scheme had captured more beneficiaries.

“SHA is a great step up from 20 per cent of NHIF, with currently three times more registered under SHA. We are working towards ensuring that Kenyans do not sell their properties to cater for their medical bills going forward,” she said.

She said the ministry would review the Critical Fund to ensure they are able to cater for illnesses like Baby Aliana’s.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka accused the CS of fumbling, saying the new health scheme had failed despite the hype.

“We need to go through this matter with a tooth comb, we need to look at this matter at the Senate Health Committee and if SHA is not working we should be told after which the country can revert back to NHIF which was a bit fair,” said Onyonka.

Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana sought to know how Barasa would address the stalemate between the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya and the government over the non-payment of claims, which has forced patients to pay in cash for treatment.

Barasa told the Senate that Sh20.9 billion has been collected since the rollout of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in October last year. She said Sh18.2 billion has been paid out.

Of these, Sh16.9 billion went to SHIF claims while Sh1.3 billion was related to the primary health capitation.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua had sought to know much money has been collected and how much has been utilised.

Barasa further told the Senators that the management has instituted proper internal controls to safeguard members’ contributions. She said

The CS further disclosed that SHA froze all the NHIF collections accounts in November, last year, to ensure seamless transition.

At the same time, Senators criticised Barasa for missing the mid-term review meeting in Naivasha early this month and failing to interact with the House as it is supposed to be.

The members wondered why Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai or Public Health Cabinet Secretary Mary Muthoni could not represent her if she was unavailable.