Hospitals risk SHA lockout as current contracts expire Wednesday
Hospitals and other healthcare providers risk losing access to SHA systems and being barred from serving SHA beneficiaries from October 1 if they fail to complete new contracts before the expiry of the current agreements on September 30.
Healthcare facilities in Kenya face the risk of being barred from the Social Health Authority (SHA) system starting October 1 if they have not finalized their contracts for the 2026-2029 cycle. The authority issued a warning on September 28, stating that current contracts with healthcare providers will expire on September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. SHA's CEO, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, emphasized that facilities without an executed contract for the new cycle will be prohibited from providing services to SHA beneficiaries and losing access to the SHA provider portal.
This directive could significantly impact patients relying on these facilities for treatment, especially those undergoing ongoing care. SHA has urged providers to apply for new contracts and complete the contracting process by October 1, urging those without contracts to make arrangements for transferring patients to contracted providers to maintain continuity of care.
The contracting process, launched via SHA's new HAKIKA electronic platform, aims to enhance contracting, verification, payment, and accountability between SHA and healthcare providers. The new framework covers services under multiple funds, including Primary Health Care, Social Health Insurance, Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness, and Public Officers Medical Scheme Funds.
The contracting period extends from October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029, with the deadline for completing the process fast approaching.
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