The Kenyan government has announced it will refund citizens who paid out-of-pocket for healthcare services due to issues arising from the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Authority (SHA). This move comes after many Kenyans faced difficulties accessing healthcare services under SHA, which led to unexpected personal costs during the rollout phase.

Patients who experienced these challenges are encouraged to reach out to SHA for refunds. The difficulties largely stemmed from delays in contract renewals with some private and faith-based hospitals and technical issues with the SHA system. The government has also contracted over 1,400 healthcare facilities to ensure smooth access to services going forward.