Tensions Rise as Private Hospitals Call for Tribunal Over Pending SHA Claims
Private hospitals in Kenya are pressing the government to establish a tribunal to resolve payment disputes with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) and the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals are both expressing strong concerns.
Brian Lishenga, RUPHA Chairperson, has called on Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa to form the Dispute Resolution Tribunal.
He questioned why the tribunal, which the law requires to be set up within six months, is still not in place. “The law and the regulations are very clear that in case there is a dispute, you can complain to the Dispute Resolution Tribunal. Is there such a tribunal? Why is it that six months down the line we have not seen such?” Lishenga stated on Citizen TV.
RUPHA also wants the government to quickly establish the benefits and tariffs committee, which has also experienced delays. Lishenga further demanded that CS Barasa create the Primary Health Advisory Council to address the challenges facing the SHA. “Why is it that we do not have a benefits and tariffs committee six months down the line? There is also the issue of the Primary Health Advisory Council, which is supposed to have helped SHA at the national level. All these are supposed to be set up by the CS.”
RUPHA criticized Principal Secretary for Health, Harry Kimtai, for allegedly contradicting President William Ruto. This criticism followed Kimtai’s threat to close private hospitals boycotting SHA due to unpaid debts, despite the President’s commitment to settle some of these liabilities. “As far as NHIF liabilities are concerned, the President has pronounced himself and committed to pay. We do not expect the PS to come out in public and begin to contradict the statements that have been made by the President,” Lishenga added. “PS Kimtai, under the previous regime, was dealing with livestock. He should realise that he is now dealing with human beings and not livestock.”
The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals also called for immediate discussions regarding unpaid claims and condemned PS Kimtai’s threats to revoke licenses due to SHA issues.
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Tensions Rise as Private Hospitals Call for Tribunal Over Pending SHA Claims
