Blow To Health Sector As Kenyans Registration into SHIF is Suspended
Law makers have called for the registrations of Kenyans into the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to be suspended until the Ministry of Health reveals the company it has contracted to carry out the exercise to safeguard the data.
National Assembly Health Committee Members during a meeting involving the Social Health Authority Board and the outgoing National Health Insurance Fund Board expressed concerns that while registration of Kenyans kicked off last month, the process is marred with secrecy and violation of the Data Protection Act.
MP for Kitutu Chache South, Anthony Kibagendi, raised concern about the lack of transparency surrounding the company contracted by SHA to register Kenyans.
Kibagendi said that the system used by SHA to enroll Kenyans to the new health scheme is questionable. Adding that the name of the IT firm being used, the associated costs and the amount of data already acquired is not known by the MPs thus making the whole system appear to be a breeding ground for corruption.
Blow To Health Sector As Kenyans Registration into SHIF is Suspended
The Chairman for the Health Committee, Robert Pukose, sought clarification on whether the website https://sha.go.ke/ is indeed the new ICT system.
Harry Kimutai, Health Principal Secretary, told the committee that the ICT system was undergoing a testing process currently and that once the testing is over, registration will begin based on the new system approved by SHA before proceeding with any contracts.
The Committee Chairman accused the Health PS of attempting to cover up, asserting that it is not true to claim that no contract had been awarded while the piloting and registration of clients was already going on.
The MP emphasized the importance of the Data Protection Act, saying it was worrying that somebody who has not been given a contract was already doing the registration, acquiring data illegally.
MP Duncan Mathenge wondered whether SHA had followed due process, by seeking for approval of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, before opting for a special procurement.
Blow To Health Sector As Kenyans Registration into SHIF is Suspended
Mathenge emphasized the legal framework, noting that while the Act allows the Health Cabinet Secretary to approve valuations by the board, it raises concerns regarding expenditures not gathered for in the budget.
Mathenge further sought for clarification on whether the law allows the Ministry of Health to incur such unforeseen expenses.
He urged the Permanent Secretary for Health to serve the committee with full information regarding the source of financing and if it was not coming from the exchequer who is the alternate financier.
Kimutai however declined to disclose details of the contracts to the committee saying it will be premature to reveal the name of the vendor and the contract sum at the moment promising to give a comprehensive statement on the matter later.
Section 47 of SHIF Act requires that digitisation and processes be done using appropriate, reliable, secure, inter-operable, verifiable and responsive technology through an information system.
Blow To Health Sector As Kenyans Registration into SHIF is Suspended
The processes and services shall include – registration of members, member identification, contributions to the Fund, empanelling of facilities, execution of contracts, notification and preauthorization, claims management and settlement of claims.
It indicates that every client shall be uniquely identified for purposes of the provision of health services and the digitisation of processes and services shall comply to the provisions of the Data Protection Act, (No. 24 of 2019) and all other laws which are deemed relevant.
