The SHA Inconvenience: Chronic patients fight for care
A month after the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), patients with chronic and severe illnesses continue to share harrowing accounts of struggles in medical facilities, where cash-on-hand often seems a prerequisite for care.
In 2020, Ferdinand Miyawa was a frontline Community Health Volunteer risking his life to care for patients during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his dedication led to unforeseen consequences.
“During that time, I was arrested by police and placed in a crowded cell where no one wore masks because I had been using one mask for three days,” he recounted.
After testing positive for COVID-19, Ferdinand faced long-term health complications. The virus left him unable to hear and requiring frequent medical attention. His experiences under the SHA medical scheme have been nothing short of challenging.
“I turned on the TV and couldn’t hear any sound. The same happened with the radio. I even went to the roadside, but I couldn’t hear anything,” he said.
Accessing medical services under SHA remains problematic for Ferdinand.
“It feels like we are treated as people who narrowly escaped death. The way we are handled is disheartening,” he said.
Despite the mounting complaints, the government remains optimistic. Both President William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa have called for patience as they address the teething issues of SHA.
“SHA is still in its infancy. Yes, we have encountered challenges here and there, but we are resolving them as we go,” said CS Barasa.
“We have already paid Sh5 billion and will disburse another Sh2.5 billion this week. We are committed to ensuring all public health facilities are funded to roll out Universal Health Coverage, so every Kenyan benefits,” President Ruto assured.
However, as the government works to iron out the scheme’s flaws, many patients are running out of patience.
For Ferdinand, the lack of adequate coverage forces him to rely on friends for financial support—a situation he finds increasingly unsustainable.
“I call friends asking for help, but it’s frustrating. Some people don’t even pick up anymore because they know I’m just asking for money,” he said.
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