NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has released crucial new guidelines for patients seeking admission under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a recent notice, the leading national referral facility explicitly warned that SHA will not cover any inpatient costs if the admission process was not properly referenced at the time of entry.
To ensure coverage, patients are now mandated to present a valid national identification card that is both registered under SHA and linked to an active membership. Without these prerequisites, admission under the new health scheme will be denied.
Furthermore, patients are required to obtain a specific reference number from SHA. This number must be accompanied by a confirmation message, serving as proof that the visit has been successfully initiated within the SHA system.
Patients are also strongly advised to confirm that their Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) status is active before seeking care. Should a patient’s SHIF account be inactive at the time of admission, the hospital has directed them to activate it immediately.
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Once activated, they must then return to the Health Information Desk to obtain a new reference number.
“If your SHIF is inactive at the time of admission; activate it immediately, return to the Health Information Desk to get a new reference number. This will allow you to benefit from SHA cover starting date it’s issued,” the notice specifies.
This proactive measure by KNH is part of its ongoing implementation of SHA protocols, aligning with the national objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Kenyans.
The guidelines aim to streamline the admission process and ensure that only properly verified and active SHA members receive covered inpatient services.
