Private hospitals list 3 reasons for stopping SHA services
The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has explained why they will stop offering medical services through the Social Health Authority cover.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 20, 2025, RUPHA highlighted why it has become a difficult task to grant their services to patients through the new government scheme.
“The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), representing hundreds of private and faith-based healthcare facilities nationwide, announces today (Thursday, February 20, 2025) a suspension of services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme beginning Monday, 24th February 2025.
“As healthcare professionals, our first duty is the welfare of our patients. However, the continued failure to address critical challenges in the SHA transition is now directly endangering the quality and sustainability of care in our hospitals. This decision has not been made lightly,” the RUPHA statement read.
RUPHA added that they have had engagements concerning SHA and two issues emerged making it impossible to continue treating patients who are covered by the scheme.
“It follows months of failed engagements, unfulfilled promises, and growing financial distress among hospitals, which now threatens the very survival of healthcare institutions across Kenya.
“Despite numerous engagements with government authorities, two critical issues remain unresolved, making it impossible to sustain operations: Settlement of historical NHIF arrears Amounting to Kshs 30 Billion and rejection of the Unworkable SHA Outpatient Reimbursement Model,” the statement added.
Crisis
RUPHA added that hospitals have been struggling majorly because of unsettled debts that amount Ksh30 billion.
“Kenyan hospitals across all ownership categories—public, private, and faith-based—are struggling under the weight of unpaid claims dating back to 2017, with the total amount now exceeding Kshs 30 billion.
“The consequences of this financial neglect are dire: massive job losses—many hospitals have lost doctors, nurses, and support staff due to inability to pay salaries; bank defaults—hospitals have defaulted on loans and overdrafts used to sustain operations while awaiting payments.
“Stockouts of essential medicines—pharmaceutical suppliers have blacklisted hospitals that cannot clear outstanding bills.
“Unpaid specialist doctors—many consultants have gone unpaid for years due to delayed reimbursements,” it concluded.
RUPHA also said that they will stop treating teachers and police officers amid the crisis around SHA.
Leave a Reply