The statement went further to list six components of the said IHTS, with the fourth highlighting Safaricom's connection to SHA. It states: "Comprehensive technology for health insurance to support digitisation of the Social Health Authority to curb fraud and improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in healthcare financing."
Fraud prevention
The statement seemed to echo an earlier one released by the Ministry of Health, signed by PS Harry Kimtai, which granted the consortium the authority to manage SHA's digitisation programme.
"To support the implementation of the UHC blueprint, the Ministry of Health has awarded a contract for the implementation of an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System ('IHTS System') to a consortium led by Safaricom PLC. The consortium includes global patient care digitisation firm Apeiro Limited (Apeiro Digital) and enterprise technology firm Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited (KNS)."
On the mandates, the statement also indicated that the consortium would work with SHA. The fifth, and last of the services, states: "Health Insurance Platform (HIP): Improving efficiency. The HIP will allow for the authentication of claims in real-time, fraud prevention, and automation of all activities of the Social Health Authority. This will also allow both public and private sector health providers to integrate with the Social Health Authority."
Safaricom's IT employees later presented a master plan titled "Healthcare Information Technology for UHC" to Standard journalists, detailing how the consortium's infrastructure would dovetail into Social Health Authority's digital strategy. PS Kimtai also accompanied the team.
The presentation came weeks after the National Assembly Committee on Health, led by Robert Pukose, cleared the Ministry of Health's decision to award the tenders for the Integrated Information Technology System for Universal Healthcare to this consortium.
On Friday, Mohammed emphasised that SHA is part of a comprehensive health digitisation agenda that extends beyond the authority.
"This initiative encompasses various healthcare stakeholders, including KEMSA, regulatory bodies such as KMPDC and PPB, the Nursing Council, and 17 other regulators, as well as healthcare providers, hospitals, and healthcare workers' devices," he insisted.
He also blamed the link to Adani Enterprises on alleged cartels that had been benefitting from the defunct NHIF. "Healthcare digitisation is one of the key pillars in the delivery of Universal Health Coverage as it increases efficiency, enhances data portability, and minimises fraud. SHA is probably being dragged into the alleged Adani deals by the cartels who were benefitting from NHIF at the expense of citizens," said Mohammed.
The new healthcare system encompasses three major funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund, with a government allocation of Sh50 billion; the Social Health Insurance Fund, expected to raise Sh148 billion annually through member contributions; and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illnesses Fund, requiring Sh75 billion yearly.