New Health Model Offers Free Services

The Kenyan government has introduced Green Label Facilities under the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, offering free primary healthcare services to registered beneficiaries. Bomet Health Centre is the first facility to receive the Green Label Service Charter.

The initiative aims to restore public confidence in SHA and demonstrate the viability of universal health coverage at a community level, although it comes amidst ongoing concerns about the system’s effectiveness.

Green Label Facility Services

Green Label Facilities receive funding directly from the Primary Health Care Fund, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Services covered include consultations, diagnosis, laboratory tests, and medications. The package also encompasses disease screening, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, family planning services, and treatment for common and long-term illnesses such as diabetes.

Challenges with the Social Health Authority

Despite the introduction of Green Label Facilities, many Kenyans express dissatisfaction with SHA since it replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024. Concerns include SHA covering less than 15 percent of actual treatment costs, with patients often facing significant out-of-pocket expenses. Cancer and kidney failure patients report difficulties accessing essential diagnostic tests and medications, and ICU bill reimbursements are limited to 10 percent.

Private hospitals are reportedly refusing SHA patients or requiring upfront cash payments due to delayed government payments and unpaid claims. Access to care is also hindered by issues such as ID number mismatches, mandatory full-year upfront contributions, and complex household registration requirements.

Government Response and Reforms

President William Ruto maintains that SHA is functioning effectively, claiming over 25 million Kenyans have registered. He asserts that primary healthcare services at level 1 to 3 facilities are free for registered users and defends SHA as superior to NHIF. The government has shut down approximately 1,000 fraudulent health facilities and pledged to sponsor 2.2 million vulnerable Kenyans.

Despite international endorsements, including a Ksh208 billion US health cooperation framework signed in December 2024, President Ruto acknowledges that his health reforms have made his government deeply unpopular.