More than 31 million Kenyans are now registered under the Social Health Authority, commonly known as SHA, as the government pushes forward with its Universal Health Coverage programme. The numbers point to one of the largest expansions of health insurance access the country has seen in recent years.
The rollout comes as the government also moves to clear outstanding debts left behind by the now-restructured National Hospital Insurance Fund, known as NHIF. Settling those obligations is seen as a key step in building trust with healthcare providers and ensuring the new system can function without the financial baggage of the old one.
For millions of Kenyans, the shift from NHIF to SHA represents more than a name change. It signals a fresh attempt to make quality healthcare reachable for people across income levels, from urban centres to rural communities that have long been underserved. Whether the momentum holds will depend on how quickly the government delivers on its promises to both patients and providers.
Originally published by AllAfrica.