Government assures civil servants of uninterrupted SHA services

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The government has dismissed reports that civil servants will soon be exempted from access to medical services via the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical insurance cover.

In a statement on Saturday, August 9, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku declared the reports as "grossly inaccurate", adding that they risked triggering a false alarm.

According to CS Ruku, government employees with SHA coverage will not be turned away at any of the contracted public and private hospitals or be forced to make cash payments for the health services rendered.

"Civil servants will continue to receive medical care in all public hospitals and accredited and contracted private and faith-based hospitals nationwide," said Ruku.

"No civil servant or eligible dependent is required to pay cash at any contracted healthcare facility. Access to quality and seamless healthcare services remains guaranteed as it has been over the years," he added.

CS Ruku's assurance comes amid fears that private hospitals will no longer accept SHA covers for a section of civil servants until government settles claims accrued over the last nine months.

However, Ruku warned that the government won't cater for costs incurred in suspended health facilities.

Yesterday, SHA gazetted 40 health facilities placed on suspension for allegedly defrauding the scheme through fraudulent claims lodged in the last two months, as revealed by a digital and forensic audit.

"Any hospitals currently suspended due to investigations into medical malpractices or noncompliance with the Social Health Authority contractual obligations are barred from providing medical services to all Kenyans," stated Ruku.