• As Kenya embarks on the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), Dr. Brian Lishenga, Chair of the Rural and Private Hospital Association has voiced concerns regarding the country’s preparedness for this significant shift

As Kenya embarks on the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), Dr. Brian Lishenga, Chair of the Rural and Private Hospital Association has voiced concerns regarding the country’s preparedness for this significant shift. In an interview on October 1, 2024, Dr. Lishenga expressed skepticism about the readiness of healthcare providers across the nation to make this change.

“We are not ready,” he asserted. “I think all over the country, no single health provider that I know of has a contract with SHA. As of yesterday, we were scrambling nationwide to get contracts.” His remarks highlight a critical gap in the transition process, raising alarms about the implications for healthcare delivery in Kenya.

Dr. Lishenga further elaborated on the lack of preparedness, stating, “We have cooperated with the Government in this process. When they reach out to us saying try to get your members to sign the contract, as of yesterday evening, before I went to bed, no one had signed a contract with SHA. There were still places in this country where contracts had not yet arrived.”

Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, he declared, “I will say without fear of contradiction: No, we are not ready. And today, no Kenyan is going to be turned away because we have a duty to offer care as healthcare providers. We are not turning away any Kenyans.”

Dr. Lishenga expressed frustration with the government's handling of the situation, stating, “What people are doing is extending grace to the government and the people, but in reality, this should have been handled much better. The way you are doing this thing will collapse. But some of us, when we say that, are quickly branded enemies of the state. We are all patriots, and we love Kenya.”

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The government had previously announced in September that the transition from NHIF to SHA would take effect on October 1, 2024. As the deadline approached, the lack of contracts and clarity has left healthcare providers anxious about the potential impact on service delivery.