Former Chief Justice David Maraga has sharply criticized the Kenya Kwanza government for failing to provide sustainable health services to Kenyans, despite the fact that they have been paying for the Social Health Authority (SHA) program.
Maraga’s condemnation follows the recent announcement that hospitals affiliated with the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) will no longer provide services to patients covered under SHA.
Maraga called this development “wrong and morally unacceptable,” emphasizing that it is subjecting ordinary Kenyans to unnecessary suffering.
RUPHA made this announcement on Thursday, stating that the decision came after months of failed negotiations, unmet promises, and escalating financial challenges faced by hospitals.
The situation is now putting the survival of healthcare institutions across the country in serious jeopardy.
“The decision follows months of failed engagements, unfulfilled promises, and growing financial distress among hospitals, which now threatens the very survival of healthcare institutions across Kenya,” RUPHA said in a statement.
Maraga has now called on the government to take swift action to restore these vital healthcare services and ensure that all Kenyans can access medical care, as they are entitled to. He urged the Kenya Kwanza administration to prioritize the constitutional right of Kenyans to the highest attainable standard of health.
“The situation is dire, and some of these medical cases require immediate attention. Lives are at risk, and the government must address the collapse of healthcare services without delay,” Maraga warned.
Maraga placed the blame for the failure of the SHA system squarely on poor policy decisions and corrupt practices within the government, which he believes have allowed the system to fail.
He further expressed concern that, with the SHA system in shambles, Kenya is moving backward instead of progressing. According to Maraga, a small group of individuals have been exploiting the healthcare sector for personal profit, hindering the country’s development.
“A nation with a sick and suffering population cannot make progress,” Maraga remarked. “We must ensure the best healthcare institutions are available to all citizens if we are to achieve the goals of universal healthcare as outlined in our Constitution.”
Starting on Monday, February 24, all patients relying on SHA will face difficulties in accessing medical services at hospitals under RUPHA. The association also announced that it will stop providing medical care to some civil servants who were using government-backed insurance.
Since its inception, many Kenyans have voiced their frustrations with the SHA system, complaining of poor service delivery and limited resources that make it difficult for them to access proper medical care.
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