Private hospitals across the country have announced the suspension of services to members of the Social Health Authority (SHA), sparking growing concern among millions of Kenyans who rely on private healthcare facilities.
The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) revealed that the move was prompted by delayed reimbursements and unresolved contractual disputes with SHA. According to the association, hospitals have been operating under financial strain, with some facilities struggling to purchase essential medicines, pay staff, and sustain operations due to pending payments from the government-backed health scheme.
Patients who present SHA cards at private hospitals are now being advised to either pay out of pocket or seek care in public facilities until the matter is resolved. This has left many families frustrated, especially those who had signed up for the scheme expecting it to ease their healthcare burden.
Health stakeholders have raised alarm that the suspension could worsen access to quality healthcare, particularly for Kenyans in areas where private hospitals are the main providers. Civil society groups are now calling on the government and the SHA to urgently address the issue to prevent a full-blown healthcare crisis.
The Ministry of Health has yet to release an official statement, but sources indicate that negotiations between SHA officials and private hospital representatives are ongoing.
For now, uncertainty lingers as patients continue to face confusion and financial pressure, waiting for a clear solution from both the government and private sector players.
