Former RUPHA boss challenges Duale over SHA-HMIS transition, raises Ksh104B concerns

Brian Lishenga, former chairman of the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA), has challenged Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over the government's transition from the Social Health Authority (SHA) Provider Portal to the Health Management Information System (HMIS). Lishenga questioned the messaging surrounding the switch and its financial implications, stating that the Health CS does not understand the transition.

The Ministry of Health aims to complete the migration from SHA to HMIS by October 30, 2026, as part of Kenya's digital health reforms. This move is intended to eliminate duplication between hospital information systems and the SHA platform, allowing for electronic flow of patient information, verification and claims data. Lishenga criticized the government's public communication on the reforms, accusing Duale of speaking without proper technical knowledge.

The financial criticism by Lishenga centers around a claim of Ksh104 billion being transferred from poor Kenyans to those close to State House, but he did not provide a detailed breakdown or evidence to support this claim. The SHA-HMIS transition has been a point of contention between private healthcare providers and the government, with Lishenga previously criticizing delays and payment challenges affecting private hospitals.

Duale maintains that the HMIS migration is crucial for the government's digital health agenda, aimed at improving claims management, reducing duplication, strengthening health-data management, and enhancing efficiency across healthcare facilities.