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

Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association Chairman Brian Lishenga during an interview at The Standard Group Offices on February 25,2025. [Benard Orwongo,Standard]

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.

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