Arise Media 
BY STEPHEN KILONZI
The government has issued a stern warning to private hospitals denying outpatient services to patients, cautioning that they risk closure and non-renewal of their operating licenses.
Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai accused some private healthcare facilities of deliberately turning away patients to pressure the government into settling outstanding medical claims.
Speaking in Embu during the handover of new digitization devices for the Taifa Care health program, Kimutai made it clear that the government would not be blackmailed.
He directed private hospitals with claims exceeding Sh10 million to provide verifiable supporting records for scrutiny, failure to which they would face serious consequences.
“We will not succumb to pressure. Private hospitals must justify their claims, or else we will take action, including suspending their operations. If you deny people services while holding a healthcare license, then you have no business continuing with such an enterprise,” said Kimutai.
He expressed frustration over what he termed manipulation of public health funds questioning why some hospitals were only demanding payments for claims dating back to 2016.
“Why didn’t they pursue these claims earlier? It is suspicious that they waited until the Social Health Insurance (SHA) program was in full swing to make their move,” he noted.
The SHA program aims to provide essential medical services to all Kenyans, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to healthcare. Under SHA, both public and private hospitals are mandated to offer outpatient services to beneficiaries.
As part of efforts to enhance transparency, the government is rolling out a digitization system to monitor SHA fund disbursement and usage.
Kimutai affirmed that these measures would track every shilling to ensure it serves the intended purpose.
Moses Kuria, the President’s Economic Adviser for Special Programs, reiterated that Kenyans under SHA are entitled to free primary medical services at government facilities.
He revealed that the government had allocated Sh32 million for outpatient services in Embu County alone, benefiting over 24,000 people.
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Of this amount, Sh24 million is designated for public facilities, while Sh8 million goes to private hospitals participating in the program.
Kuria emphasized that financial allocations depend on the number of registered SHA beneficiaries in each county.
He warned private hospitals that they must fulfill their commitment to providing outpatient services or risk exclusion from the program.
The crackdown on non-compliant private hospitals marks a significant move by the government to enforce accountability in the healthcare sector, ensuring that Kenyans receive the medical care they deserve.
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