{
  "id": 10390797,
  "title": "Kenya: Hospitals Risk Social Health Authority Lockout As Contracts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/kenya-hospitals-risk-social-health-authority-lockout-as-contracts",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-28T07:19:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica Health",
    "slug": "allafrica-health",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202609280038.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Kenya face potential termination from the Social Health Authority (SHA) system starting October 1, 2026, if they fail to finalize contracts for the upcoming 2026-2029 cycle. SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi announced that existing contracts will expire on September 30, 2026, and providers without new contracts will be barred from accessing the SHA provider portal and providing services to SHA beneficiaries. The authority emphasized the urgency for providers to apply for and complete the contracting process before the October 1 deadline. Failure to secure new contracts could disrupt treatment for patients reliant on these facilities, particularly those undergoing ongoing treatment or requiring regular procedures. SHA initiated the contracting process under the new electronic platform \"HAKIKA\" to enhance contracting, verification, payment, and accountability among providers.",
  "summary": "[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Healthcare providers across the country risk being locked out of the Social Health Authority (SHA) system from Thursday if they fail to complete the contracting process for the new 2026-2029 cycle.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenya's hospitals may be locked out of SHA system from Oct 1, 2026, if contracts not finalized.",
    "Existing contracts expire Sep 30, 2026, leaving providers without SHA access.",
    "SHA urges providers to complete contracting process before Oct 1 deadline."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "AllAfrica",
        "title": "Kenya: Hospitals Risk Social Health Authority Lockout As Contracts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/kenya-hospitals-risk-social-health-authority-lockout-as-contracts-10393672",
        "published": "2026-09-28T07:19:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}