Aasai

The Secretary General of Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has asked Kenyans to embrace the Social Health Authority (SHA) amid the controversy surrounding the health insurance plan.

 Speaking in Homa Bay on the sidelines of the 2025 Devolution Conference, Dr. Oluga said the only way the country can manage health services in a sustainable way is through health funding, adding that SHA is the best example to ensure that every Kenyan gets medical services. "Health funding is the key to solving all our problems. Please ask every Kenyan to register and contribute to the Community Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), because that is the only way we can manage our health services," Oluga said.

 PS noted that 35% of Kenyas health services are currently funded by donors, which is Ksh.82 billion. He warned that due to some donors, such as USAID, leaving, Kenya has no choice but to embrace a new health insurance fund to develop the sector. "We are targeting Ksh.80 billion from Kenyans, as well as Ksh.6.77 billion from employers. We will get somewhere. 

Parliament will give us approximately Ksh.125 billion. So, we e going to be good enough, and we e going to work with it," Oluga added. Speaking about the issues raised by Kenyans about SHA and its potential, PS Oluga said the Ministry of Health has established a Health Policy Forum to facilitate integrated policy making. He explained that the platform will help the ministry collect opinions from Kenyans, develop available resources, and make the right decisions.

 "We have to improve the health care system. We want to create a data-driven democratic process, so that if I made a decision, and you were in my position tomorrow, you would make the same decision because its evidence-based," he said. Oluga also emphasized that medical governance is important in improving health services in the country, urging doctors and health care providers to embrace real leadership in service delivery. 

With these steps, Dr. Oluga expressed confidence that Kenyas health system will improve. His statement came shortly after the Ministry of Health launched biometric registration across the country, where patients seeking SHA services will be identified. Announcing the launch, President William Ruto said the SMS number previously used to identify patients will no longer be used, as it has been facing fraud. The use of biometrics at Level 4 (sub-counties), Level 5 (county directive), and Level 6 (national) hospitals aim to enhance patient diagnosis and eliminate fraud and counterfeit claims that threaten the health sector.