The Social Health Authority (SHA) has launched a new refund system to help Kenyans who have overpaid or sent their health insurance premiums to the wrong number.
The announcement was made on Thursday by SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi, who explained that the system is meant to support citizens who use mobile money platforms to pay their monthly contributions.
According to the CEO, many Kenyans make errors when sending their SHA premiums, leading to double payments, wrong entries, or payments made to the wrong account.
The new system gives these members a chance to appeal and get their money back after verification.
To qualify for a refund, Kenyans will need to submit several documents. These include a copy of their mobile money transaction statements, a national identification card or passport, and a letter addressed to the CEO of SHA.
All these documents must be scanned and sent to the authority through email. Those unable to send documents online can drop them off at any SHA County Office or the nearest Huduma Centre.
SHA also reminded members to ensure that the documents are clear and easy to read. Mwangangi added that no refund will be processed before the verification of details.
She assured that once the information is confirmed, the authority will begin refunding eligible members.
For any problems or questions regarding the refund system, Kenyans have been asked to visit an SHA office or contact the authority through its toll-free number, 147.
The introduction of this system comes at a time when the health sector is facing strong criticism from county governments.
Governors, through the Council of Governors (CoG), have raised concerns about delays in the release of SHA funds meant to support health services in the counties.
During a meeting held on Wednesday, the governors said the delayed claims payments have pushed public hospitals into a debt of Ksh32 billion, making it hard for them to operate normally.
The governors described the situation as alarming, noting that many hospitals are struggling to buy medicine, pay suppliers, and maintain essential services.
They warned that if the delays continue, they may be forced to stop using SHA systems in their county hospitals.
The CoG also criticised the Ministry of Health for making decisions that heavily affect counties without proper consultation.
One of the issues discussed was the move to upgrade more hospitals from Level 5 to Level 6.
While governors agreed that such upgrades may improve health services, they insisted that the changes also come with increased costs and responsibilities that counties must be prepared to handle.
The council urged Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to address their grievances and work closely with county governments to restore trust and improve service delivery.
They emphasised that health is a shared responsibility between the national and county governments, and cooperation is needed to protect Kenyans who depend on public hospitals.
Tags:
Health