A press briefing by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, aimed at updating Kenyans on the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, was disrupted on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by aggrieved patients. The patients expressed their frustrations over the inefficiencies and bureaucratic hurdles they face with the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
The disruption occurred during the event at Afya House in Nairobi, with patients who had traveled from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) accusing the Ministry of Health of ignoring their grievances.
The patients, some visibly distressed, demanded answers regarding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), citing repeated instances of neglect and misdirection by health officials.
“We are not the only ones here. Others are waiting at the gate. We’ve gone to NHIF, the ICT department, and other offices, but no one is helping us,” one patient shouted.
Another patient, holding her baby, lamented, “They keep sending us in circles, knowing full well that there’s no help at the referred offices.”
Among the protesters was a mother with a three-day-old baby who had undergone a Caesarean section but was unable to leave the hospital due to unresolved authorization issues under the SHA system.
“We’ve walked all the way from Kenyatta because of this thing called SHA. Can you tell Kenyans the truth?” the mother pleaded.
The patients alleged that some officials had referred them to Principal Secretary of Medical Services Harry Kimtai but that their concerns remained unresolved.
Forced to listen to the grievances, CS Barasa assured the patients that the Ministry was aware of the challenges and working to resolve them. She reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring affordable healthcare for all under UHC.
The confusion surrounding SHA authorization for treatments and discharge has caused significant delays, leaving patients and their families stranded in hospitals.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Practitioners, led by George Gibore, recently issued an ultimatum, threatening to paralyze services if these issues are not addressed promptly.
It remains unclear how the protesting patients learned of the press briefing venue. Also present at the disrupted event were Health Director General Patrick Amoth and other senior Ministry officials.
The incident underscores the growing dissatisfaction with the SHA system, prompting calls for urgent reforms to streamline its operations and deliver on the promise of Universal Health Coverage.
