The Social Health Authority (SHA) has closed all of its district and regional branches

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has closed all of its district and regional branches, including seven in Nairobi. The Social Health Authority (SHA) in Kenya is a government-owned enterprise responsible for administering public health insurance and providing universal health coverage (UHC) in the country. With the entry into force of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023, it replaced the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on October 1, 2024. The SHA's primary mission is to provide accessible, affordable, sustainable, and quality health insurance to all Kenyan citizens and eligible foreign residents. It administers three different health funds: – the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHCF), which covers primary and preventive healthcare services. – the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which provides inpatient and outpatient services. – the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCF), which covers emergency care and chronic diseases. The SHA, which reports to the Ministry of Health, aims to expand healthcare coverage, reduce financial barriers, and ensure high-quality care through partnerships with county governments, private sector actors, and international organizations. In addition, the SHA manages contracts with providers and reimburses healthcare services through a central digital platform. SHA health insurance contributions are based on household income. There is a statutory deduction for formal employees, and informal workers can make an annual prepayment. The branches were taken over by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which put employees in a difficult situation because facilities were closed. Employees were transferred to the county offices or to the headquarters in Nairobi, while others remained at home. Regional offices were closed, and managers were transferred and given new assignments. However, there are no real assignments, so many remain at home. Branches outside the county headquarters were closed, forcing some employees to commute long distances. @https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health-science/article/2001527180/why-sha-has-closed-all-regional-offices @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Health_Authority_(Kenya) @https://willowhealthmedia.org/sha-shif-taifa-care-here-are-the-key-differences-you-should-know/ @https://www.geopoll.com/blog/understanding-kenyans-perception-of-the-social-health-authority-sha-and-social-health-insurance-fund-shif/