Augustine Wiers
The government has sustained the enhancements on the Social Health Authority (SHA) to optimise services to members A new programme is in the offing; members of SHA will soon have at their disposal a 24-hour ambulance service for emergency cases This comes weeks after the government rolled out a special scheme under the SHA to help Kenyans seeking specialised services outside the country Kenyans will soon access free emergency medical care and ambulance evacuation under a new plan by the Social Health Authority (SHA), marking a major step in the government’s push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi speaking at a past function. Photo: SHA.
Source: Twitter SHA chief executive officer, Mercy Mwangangi, said the authority is finalising plans to launch a National Ambulance Dispatch Centre that will coordinate emergency response across the country through a central toll-free number.
Inside SHA’s new scheme for emergency services Under the scheme, SHA will cover up to KSh 4,500 for each emergency evacuation within a 25-kilometre radius and pay for the first 24 hours of emergency treatment at the receiving facility — even for citizens who are not registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
“After the first 24 hours, SHA will continue to cover your care only if you are a registered SHIF member,” Mwangangi clarified. The system will use digital tracking tools to pinpoint callers’ locations in real time, enabling ambulances to respond faster and reduce delays in life-threatening situations.
“This is part of broader, people-centred reforms to eliminate financial barriers and ensure timely access to life-saving services,” Mwangangi said, adding that the initiative is a core pillar of Kenya’s new UHC framework. The service will cater to a wide range of emergencies, from maternity complications such as excessive bleeding to strokes, severe asthma, kidney failure, and heart conditions.
Health experts have lauded the plan as a milestone in strengthening Kenya’s emergency health infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
They say the move will ease the financial strain on families during medical crises and help standardise emergency response nationwide.
The national ambulance service is expected to be fully operational before the end of 2025.
The programme comes weeks after the government rolled out a plan to help Kenyans seeking specialised treatment abroad.
Inside government’s new overseas health scheme Last month, the Ministry of Health introduced a new overseas health coverage plan for Kenyans.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed that a formal system within the SHA would assist Kenyans who require specialised medical treatment abroad.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale appearing before a National Assembly committee. Photo: Aden Duale.
Source: Twitter This initiative is designed to make such services accessible to all and save lives when certain treatments are not available locally.
An evaluation carried out by the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) identified the necessity of accessing specific medical services outside Kenya. Duale noted that this program will enhance the previous one that operated under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Which Kenyans are eligible overseas medical cover? Eligibility for the scheme requires applicants to demonstrate that the needed treatment is not available within the country.
Additionally, applicants must be registered in the SHA directory and have up-to-date payments at the time they seek approval.
The ministry also emphasised that overseas medical facilities must be accredited both by local authorities and recognised by Kenya’s relevant regulatory bodies.
Moreover, the foreign facilities need to have partnerships with contracted Kenyan health institutions to guarantee ongoing care once patients return home.
Referrals for treatment abroad will be reviewed by the Claims Management Office through a peer review process to confirm the medical necessity of the services.
Treatments must also fall within the financial limits set by the benefits package and exclude any unproven, experimental, or non-standard therapies.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Source: Tuko.co.ke | Read the Full Story…
