SHA: Government Begins Fresh Review of Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of New Health Scheme
- The government has established a Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel and Secretariat to review Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits
- Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale said the panel will offer expert advice to the ministry on sustainable benefits to SHA members
- Duale noted that the panel will ensure that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) services are in line with national needs
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Kenyans registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) could soon access cost-effective and financially sustainable services.
Source: Twitter
The government has established a Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel and Secretariat to review Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits.
What's the role of SHA benefits panel?
Speaking during the inauguration of the panel in Nairobi on Monday, May 26, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale revealed that the panel will offer expert advice to the ministry on sustainable benefits to SHA members.
CS Duale noted that the panel will provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health and SHA on key areas, including the design and regular review of health benefits packages through Health Technology Assessment (HTA).
"You are tasked with updating healthcare tariffs to ensure cost-effectiveness and affordability, and identifying priority interventions that are currently unavailable but urgently needed.
"You are to provide us with expert advice on designing and reviewing the benefits package and tariff under our social health insurance framework. These benefits and tariffs must be evidence-based, reflect equity and be financially sustainable," Duale told the panel chaired by Prof Walter Jaoko.
Source: Twitter
The SHA benefit panel was established via Gazette Notice No. 5044 of 23rd April 2025 to identify gaps in critical interventions and inform policy using evidence and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Duale said the initiative marks a bold step towards transparent, data-driven and sustainable healthcare reforms under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The CS added that the panel will assess disease burden, population health needs, and service accessibility to inform decision-making, while fostering inclusive stakeholder engagement across the healthcare ecosystem.
“This panel is central to ensuring that what we offer under UHC is aligned with national needs, is affordable for the people, and is financially sustainable. Our goal is to deliver healthcare that leaves no one behind,” he said.
The secretariat will be hosted at the University of Nairobi’s College of Health Sciences.
What are the current SHA benefits?
The Ministry of Health noted that under the new scheme, patients access medical services based on a household limit of 180 days per year.
If a patient seeks services exceeding the limit, they will be required to pay extra charges.
The ministry revealed that for patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) and high dependency units (HDU) at Level 4 hospitals, SHIF pays KSh 3,360 per day, Level 5 hospitals (KSh 3,920 per day) and Level 6 hospitals (KSh 4,480 per day).
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
