Private hospitals across the country are discontinuing services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme due to major financial and technical challenges. According to a report by the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association, hospitals are facing significant difficulties in receiving payments, accessing the SHA portal, and verifying patient eligibility.The report highlights that 54% of private hospitals have not received payments from SHA, leading to financial strain and an inability to continue offering services under the scheme. Additionally, 89% of healthcare facilities have reported failures in the SHA online portal, preventing them from processing claims and accessing patient records efficiently.

Moreover, 83% of hospitals cite serious difficulties in verifying patient eligibility, further complicating service delivery and causing delays in treatment. These persistent issues have prompted many private healthcare providers to suspend SHA services until the problems are adequately addressed.

Speaking on the matter, representatives from private hospitals have urged the government and SHA administrators to resolve the payment backlog, enhance system reliability, and streamline the verification process to ensure continued access to healthcare services for insured patients.

With healthcare facilities struggling under these challenges, patients relying on SHA services may face limited access to private hospitals, further straining the already burdened public healthcare system. Stakeholders are now calling for urgent intervention to restore confidence in the program and ensure sustainable healthcare access for all.