More than 2.2 million Kenyans are set to receive free medical services after President William Ruto officially unveiled the Social Health Authority (SHA) Sponsorship Programme.
The Head of State made the announcement on Friday, September 19, during a ceremony held at State House in Nairobi. He explained that the programme is part of his government’s wider plan to ensure that every Kenyan, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds, can access quality and affordable healthcare without financial struggles.
According to President Ruto, the programme is a major step under the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, which aims to guarantee that all Kenyans enjoy equal access to health services. He assured citizens that the government will continue identifying more families in need so that no one is left behind.
“We made an unshakable commitment to deliver Universal Health Coverage for every Kenyan, no matter their economic status. Today we are taking another big step towards fulfilling that promise,” Ruto said.
“Through the new SHA Sponsorship Programme, more than 2.2 million vulnerable Kenyans will now be able to receive medical care completely free of charge,” he added.
Benefits Kenyans Will Receive Under SHA
The millions of beneficiaries enrolled in the new sponsorship programme will enjoy a wide range of health services at no cost. These include:
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment
- Maternity and child care services
- Emergency healthcare
- Dental and optical services
- Mental health support
- Cancer treatment and other chronic illness management
- Critical care services
- Screening and diagnostic tests
- Mortuary services
The type of service available will depend on the Kenya Essential Package of Health (KEPH) offered at different hospital levels. For example, outpatient services will be available at Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals, while inpatient services will be provided in higher-level facilities such as Level 4, 5, and 6 hospitals.
Currently, Kenyans are required to make a minimum mandatory SHA contribution of Ksh300 per month, which translates to an annual one-off payment of Ksh3,600.
This contribution ensures sustainability of the programme and also helps extend healthcare benefits to those who cannot afford to pay.
Previous Government Support
This announcement comes just weeks after President Ruto revealed, on Tuesday, September 2, that the government would cover SHA registration costs for 1.5 million Kenyans.
According to the Head of Special Projects and Creative Economy at the Executive Office of the President,
Dennis Itumbi, a group of vulnerable Kenyans had already been identified to benefit from the government’s directive.
President Ruto explained that this move was made possible by the fair and equitable collection of the 2.75 per cent mandatory SHA contributions from working Kenyans. These contributions allowed the government to set aside enough funds to support those who were unable to afford healthcare coverage on their own.
He further directed that all Level 1 to Level 4 hospitals across the country should continue offering free healthcare services to Kenyans who have successfully registered under SHA.
With this latest development, the government says it is determined to bring Kenya closer to the dream of full Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that healthcare is treated as a right for every citizen, not a privilege only for those who can pay.
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