BY TRACY KAVAI, nyaberakavai@gmail.com
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) is calling on the Ministry of Health to conduct proper public participation in the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme.
Speaking in Nairobi during a peaceful demonstration, KUCO Chairman Peterson Wachira criticized the current state of the SHA scheme, stating that the health benefits package offered under the new system falls far short of expectations. “The package does not match expectations arising from the amount that Kenyans are expected to contribute monthly,” said Wachira, who expressed disappointment over the current structure.
The SHA rollout has been met with growing criticism from health workers and the general public. KUCO’s primary concern is that Kenyans are contributing significant sums of money toward the scheme but are not guaranteed quality medical services in return. Wachira pointed out that “most hospitals don’t know how to identify patients seeking medication under the SHA,” which raises concerns about the effective implementation of the scheme.
Adding to the frustration, KUCO members criticized SHA for excluding health facilities accredited by the Clinical Officers Council from participating in the new system. “The SHA has locked out facilities that are crucial in offering healthcare services,” Wachira noted, calling the exclusion unacceptable.
The union is now urging the government to halt the implementation of the SHA until comprehensive public participation forums are held. “We demand that the government immediately hold public forums on the viability of the SHA before it proceeds,” stated Wachira. Furthermore, KUCO is also pushing for comprehensive medical insurance for all clinical officers and their interns, calling the current situation untenable for both healthcare providers and patients.