Health Cabinet Secretary Appears Before National Assembly to Address SHA Implementation and Emerging Health Sector Issues
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale appeared before the National Assembly, chaired by Hon. Moses Wetangula, to respond to a series of statements raised by Members of Parliament concerning the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and other critical emerging issues in the health sector.
In his address, Hon. Duale provided a comprehensive report on SHA’s progress since its inception, noting that registration currently stands at 21,390,659 people. He underscored that the health benefits package under SHA is significantly enhanced compared to the former NHIF scheme, offering Kenyans broader and more equitable access to care.
The Cabinet Secretary outlined key reforms required to ensure the successful rollout of SHA, with a strong emphasis on public awareness campaigns to boost understanding and uptake of the new system.
Acknowledging the pressing challenges in health sector management and reforms, Hon. Duale reaffirmed his commitment to the full implementation of SHA, noting that the reforms will help crack down on unqualified medical practitioners and promote affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.
On specialized healthcare delivery, he emphasized the government’s focus on upgrading infrastructure, staffing, and services at primary and community health facilities to ease pressure on referral hospitals, reduce waiting times, and improve service delivery closer to communities.
Hon. Duale reiterated the Ministry’s dedication to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in the health sector, in line with the implementation of the Taifa Care Model, a key pillar of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms. Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and other senior Ministry officials