Civil Servants Must Register for SHIF by October 1, Gov’t Warns
The Kenyan government has issued a firm deadline requiring all civil servants to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) by October 1, 2024.
This directive was communicated by government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who emphasized the urgency of the registration process as part of the government’s broader healthcare reforms.
“All civil servants are expected to be registered by October 1, 2024, with the Ministries of Energy and Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy required to support power and internet connections to health facilities across the country,” Mwaura stated.
The Ministries of Energy and ICT have been tasked with enhancing internet connectivity in health facilities to ensure the smooth implementation of the SHIF registration. Additionally, the Ministry of Education will be responsible for the registration of learners under the new health scheme.
The SHIF is being rolled out by the Social Health Authority (SHA), and so far, over 860,000 Kenyans have already been enlisted under the new system, according to government data. However, the implementation of SHIF has faced legal challenges.
In July, a High Court in Nairobi ruled that the SHIF was unconstitutional due to the lack of public participation in its establishment. The court halted the rollout of SHIF until the issue could be conclusively resolved.
The court ruling, delivered by a panel of three judges on July 12, highlighted significant irregularities in the SHIF Act, which was intended to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The NHIF, established in 1966, has been plagued by corruption and management issues, leading to its insolvency in recent years.
The judges have given the National Assembly until November 20, 2024, to make the necessary amendments to the SHIF Act to address the court’s concerns. Despite the legal hurdles, the government remains committed to transitioning to the SHIF system, which it views as essential for providing universal healthcare coverage to all Kenyans.
As the deadline approaches, civil servants are urged to comply with the registration requirement, as the government intensifies its efforts to reform the country’s healthcare system.
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Civil Servants Must Register for SHIF by October 1, Gov’t Warns
