President William Ruto has expressed optimism about Kenya’s progress towards Universal Healthcare coverage, UHC following the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme. Speaking during a meeting with Kenyans living in Beijing, China, the president revealed that an average of 45,000 to 60,000 people are registering daily on the platform.
According to President Ruto, the SHA initiative, which replaces the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), currently has 21 million registered members tripling the 7 million who were previously enrolled under NHIF.
“I’m confident we are now moving toward universality in matters of health,” President Ruto said, highlighting the inclusive nature of the programme. The president said for those who cannot pay, the government steps in.”
The President emphasized that the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) had long been a priority for his administration. He noted that the government had put the necessary legislation in place to facilitate the nationwide rollout.
The SHA programme is a key component of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s social protection agenda, aimed at ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all citizens.
