Patients struggle as Health ministry, private hospital wrangle on unpaid billions

A tussle between the Ministry of Health and private hospitals over a Sh30 billion debt has left patients seeking Social Health Authority (SHA) services in despair.

The ministry is pleading with the hospitals to continue providing SHA services as it develops a new payment model to clear National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) debt, but the facilities have maintained their indefinite suspension of services.

“For SHA itself, we have been able to pay, but the challenge is NHIF debt which we are having the plan to pay. We are optimistic that we shall agree and services will resume," said Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa.