Kenya's Ministry of Health has suspended the tariff-locking mechanism in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system amid complaints from civil servants. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the decision on April 23 to ease access to healthcare services.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has scrapped the tariff-locking mechanism in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system after reports that civil servants were denied services or forced to pay out-of-pocket at health facilities.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the decision on Thursday, April 23, following a meeting aimed at improving healthcare for public servants. "To alleviate the immediate friction at the point of care, SHA will immediately withdraw the tariff locking currently configured in the system," Duale stated.
Under the agreement, all SHA-contracted facilities are barred from charging civil servants fees for medication, effective immediately. Strict tariff enforcement has been suspended pending nationwide tariff negotiations.
The meeting also established a joint rapid response desk involving SHA, the State Department of Public Service, and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS). This desk will handle urgent cases, secure releases for detained civil servants over bills, and process refunds for unauthorized charges.
The move addresses complaints of civil servants being turned away or billed despite salary deductions for services. The ministry dismissed claims that SHA services for civil servants were suspended, enforcing a strict "walk-in, walk-out" policy with no co-payments.