Govt Bows To Pressure & Increases Benefit Packages For Cancer & ICU Patients

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa on Monday, February 17 proposed increased benefit packages for cancer and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) treatments covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA). This is in a bid to help Kenyans offset the high medical bills they face while seeking healthcare services.

Speaking during a high-level consultative forum on the implementation status of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), held at Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s official residence in Nairobi, Barasa announced that the government had updated the benefits available to Kenyans.

The CS stated that these benefits are among the reforms the government is implementing within SHA and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) packages to ensure Kenyans have access to affordable healthcare services.

"We have revised the benefits and tariffs package. There is additional funding through the supplementary budget to facilitate an increase in ICU funding," Barasa announced.

A photo of the Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters in Nairobi. /SOCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY

With the revision, the government will increase the funds allocated to ICU patients by over Ksh24,000, up from the current Ksh4,480. Moreover, cancer patients receiving oncology treatment at accredited facilities will benefit from an additional allocation of Ksh150,000, raising the current amount from Ksh400,000 per day.

"Previously we were at Ksh4,480 but we are happy to report that now ICU will benefit from Ksh28,000 per day," the CS stated, adding "Equally for oncology services, we are happy to report that previously we were at Ksh400,000, and following concerns from the public, we have been able to increase the same to Ksh550,000. This is an additional increase of Ksh150,000 for the oncology cases."

Barasa added, "After review the revised benefits will go through the legal processes for gazettement."

The CS explained that these changes were designed to enhance health coverage for Kenyans under the SHA, noting that they were implemented following proposals in the supplementary budget.

She also mentioned that the government is reviewing the overseas treatment package, a matter that has raised concerns among Kenyans in recent weeks. According to the CS, eligibility for this package requires government approval, with the current coverage set at Ksh500,000.

“Another concern that has come up from Kenyans is the issue of overseas treatment. The SHIF Act provides for the overseas purchasing of healthcare services that are not available locally,” she highlighted.

“However, this requires accreditation, empanelment, and contracting of providers at overseas facilities, so we continue working on facilitating overseas treatment.”

To expedite this process, the CS stated that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), is conducting a review of patients seeking treatment abroad.

Additionally, the CS expressed concern that some individuals misuse the system by travelling overseas under the guise of seeking medical care, only to divert government funds for personal gain.

“It is important that they go through the KMPDC and the Ministry of Health before they can be cleared because we have had challenges with patients going to facilities that have not undergone the proper accreditation and requesting money to be sent to bank accounts, and so on,” Barasa urged.