Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) was introduced by the government after signing an agreement with a Safaricom led consortium. It aimed to build the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS), valued at Sh104.8 billion, over two years. The hurried rollout has led to various challenges, as the system remains incomplete.
On October 1, the government shut down the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) system. Hospitals then encountered technical problems with the new system, which slowed down claim processing. As a result, hospitals demanded that patients pay in cash for their treatments. According to officials from the Digital Health Agency, only five out of the 17 IHTS components were operational at launch, and even those were not fully functioning.
Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda, former secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, noted that hospitals are exploiting the system’s flaws to request cash payments from patients. Safaricom’s developers confirmed that the IHTS remains under development, with the full implementation initially expected in 2026.
Dr. Job Nyameino, who leads Safaricom’s development team, mentioned they are building the project in stages. So far, they have completed eight components. The Ministry of Health urged Safaricom to accelerate the process, despite warnings that it would require more time. The IHTS will feature elements like a national eClaims platform, health data centers, and telemedicine.
This hasty implementation has caused significant difficulties, especially for patients undergoing dialysis, chemotherapy, and other essential treatments. The government aims to generate Sh133 billion annually from SHIF, a notable increase compared to the Sh78.8 billion collected by NHIF last year.
Despite these challenges, Safaricom’s team continues to advance the project. Their goal is to establish a robust digital health framework for Kenya’s healthcare system.
Also read: A Building Collapses In Kahawa West, Nairobi
