The Social Well being Authority (SHA) and the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF) are a part of Kenya’s healthcare reform aimed toward attaining Common Well being Protection (UHC) by changing the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Fund (NHIF).
What’s SHA?
The Social Well being Authority (SHA) is the federal government company established to supervise and regulate Kenya’s new healthcare financing system. It replaces the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Fund (NHIF) and is liable for managing the brand new medical insurance construction below the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Employers have been required to register their workers and their dependents with SHA via the SHA Employer Portal by October 1, 2024. The ultimate date for NHIF admissions was September 30, 2024.
What’s SHIF?
The Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF) is the first medical insurance scheme below SHA. It’s designed to make sure that all Kenyans, together with these within the casual sector and weak teams, have entry to inexpensive and high quality healthcare.
To higher perceive the general public notion of Kenya’s new healthcare reforms, GeoPoll lately performed a survey on SHA /SHIF. The examine sought to evaluate consciousness, understanding, and attitudes towards these initiatives, that are set to exchange the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Fund (NHIF) as a part of the federal government’s Common Well being Protection (UHC) technique.
Key Findings
Consciousness and Information Ranges
Notion of Accessibility and Affordability
SHA/SHIF Utilization
SHA/SHIF Challenges
Demographic Overview
The survey gathered suggestions from 961 respondents in Kenya. The individuals are of age 18 years previous and above, with the most important share being between 25-35 years previous (59%), and comprised 52% feminine and 48% male. A majority, (38%) are faculty diploma holders. As well as, 73% said that they reside in city areas whereas 27% reside in rural areas.
Revenue
The survey outcomes indicated that a good portion of respondents (34%) earn lower than Kes. 10,000, adopted intently by 31% who fall throughout the Kes. 10,001 – Kes. 30,000 earnings bracket. Moreover, 14% earn between Kes. 30,001 and Kes. 50,000, whereas 12% report earnings of Kes. 50,001 – Kes. 100,000. A smaller proportion, 7%, earn between Kes. 100,001 and Kes. 250,000, with solely 4% making greater than Kes. 250,000.
Consciousness and Information Ranges
Our survey confirmed that 95% of respondents are conscious of SHA and SHIF, whereas 4% have by no means heard of them. Amongst those that are accustomed to SHA and SHIF, 34% have intensive information, 33% have some information, 26% have restricted information, and 4% don’t have any information in any respect.
Supply of knowledge
Tv is the first supply of knowledge for respondents, with 27% indicating that they depend on it for updates about SHA and SHIF. Social media follows intently behind as the principle supply of knowledge for 25% of individuals. Radio can also be a big channel, with 15% of respondents studying about SHA and SHIF via it. Moreover, 13% of individuals reported acquiring data from official authorities web sites. Phrase of mouth is one other vital supply, with 10% of respondents listening to about SHA and SHIF via casual conversations, whereas healthcare suppliers, reminiscent of docs and nurses, are influential sources for one more 10% of individuals.
This distribution highlights a various mixture of conventional and digital communication channels that contribute to public consciousness of SHA and SHIF.
Do you perceive the aim of SHIF
A good portion of respondents, 38%, indicated that they’ve a considerably good understanding of SHIF. This implies that whereas they’re accustomed to the idea, they could not totally grasp all its particulars and nuances. Moreover, 27% reported having an excellent understanding of SHIF, indicating that they’re extremely educated about how the fund works, its advantages, and its position within the healthcare system.
Then again, 27% of respondents acknowledged having a restricted understanding of SHIF. This might point out a scarcity of clear or detailed data, or probably confusion relating to its features and providers. Moreover, an 8% minority said that they don’t perceive SHIF in any respect, highlighting a big hole in information or consciousness. This hole might consequence from elements reminiscent of restricted entry to data or communication obstacles.
The Objective of SHIF
The survey revealed various perceptions in regards to the function of SHIF. A major 35% of respondents imagine that SHIF is supposed to exchange NHIF with a simpler and improved insurance coverage mannequin. In the meantime, 28% view SHIF as a approach to offer inexpensive medical insurance for people throughout all earnings ranges. Moreover, 22% of individuals see SHIF as a program designed to supply free healthcare to all Kenyans. Nonetheless, 10% of respondents have been uncertain about SHIF’s particular objectives, indicating a spot in consciousness or understanding.
Expectations of SHIF
On this survey, we aimed to grasp the individuals’ expectations relating to the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). The vast majority of respondents, 29%, indicated that they don’t have any particular expectations for SHIF. Shut behind, 23% expressed optimistic expectations, exhibiting a hopeful outlook for the fund’s future affect.
Moreover, 13% of respondents are optimistic that SHIF will result in improved healthcare providers, indicating a want for higher high quality and extra accessible healthcare choices. A smaller group, 5%, expects SHIF to outperform the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Fund (NHIF), suggesting a want for enhanced advantages or elevated effectivity. Lastly, 4% of individuals emphasised the significance of affordability, expressing hope that SHIF will present well being protection that’s financially accessible to a broader inhabitants.
Enrolled to SHIF
In accordance with the survey, 60% of the individuals have registered for the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF), whereas 40% haven’t accomplished their registration.
Causes for not registering to SHIF
Amongst those that haven’t registered for the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF), 34% cited a scarcity of belief within the system as their main purpose for not enrolling. Moreover, 26% expressed issues about affordability. Moreover, 25% talked about that inadequate data was a barrier to registration, whereas 19% said a easy lack of curiosity. Some respondents (18%) reported dealing with difficulties in the course of the enrollment course of, and 9% most popular non-public insurance coverage choices over SHIF.
Utilization and Expertise of SHIF Amongst Enrolled Contributors
Of these enrolled within the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF), 63% reported that they haven’t but utilized their SHIF protection, then again, 37% have accessed the brand new insurance coverage providers.
Of those that have used SHIF, the suggestions on their expertise varies. A notable 29% expressed a impartial expertise, indicating neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction with the providers offered. In the meantime, 23% reported a really poor expertise, highlighting issues or dissatisfaction with the healthcare providers or advantages they acquired.
In distinction, 20% of customers shared that their expertise was good, suggesting {that a} portion of enrollees felt their expectations have been met. 16% rated their expertise as poor, pointing to areas of enchancment wanted. Nonetheless, 14% of respondents indicated that their expertise with SHIF was excellent, reflecting a optimistic outlook and satisfaction with the providers offered.
Healthcare providers to be prioritized below SHIF
Survey individuals recognized a number of healthcare providers that needs to be prioritized below the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). The best precedence was given to emergency medical providers, which 70% of respondents highlighted as important. Following intently have been maternity and baby well being providers, valued by 68% of individuals. Moreover, 57% emphasised the necessity for improved administration of power ailments. Common outpatient providers and specialised care, reminiscent of most cancers remedy, have been deemed important by 56% and 54% of respondents, respectively. Moreover, 40% of individuals pressured the significance of preventive care and well being promotion, whereas 39% referred to as for a higher concentrate on psychological well being providers.
SHIF challenges
The survey recognized a number of key challenges confronted by the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Probably the most important situation was corruption and mismanagement, which affected 75% of respondents. Restricted entry to high quality healthcare amenities was a significant concern for 48% of individuals. Moreover, technical and system points have been highlighted by 46% of respondents, whereas 42% famous a scarcity of public consciousness about SHIF. Excessive prices for members have been a fear for 37% of these surveyed, and 34% cited supplier reimbursement points as a big problem that disrupts service supply and general effectiveness.
Methodology/About this Survey
This Unique Survey was run by way of the GeoPoll cell utility between the twentieth February and twenty sixth of February 2025 in Kenya. The pattern measurement was 961, composed of random GeoPoll app customers above the age of 18. For the reason that survey was randomly distributed, the outcomes are barely skewed in direction of youthful respondents.
GeoPoll is dedicated to supporting well being organizations, NGOs, and governments in future well being challenges. Collectively, we will use information to tell focused interventions, mitigate the affect of public well being crises, and construct extra resilient well being techniques for the long run. Our mobile-based surveys supply a novel and tried-and-tested method to collect insights on illness unfold, public notion, and vaccine hesitancy, particularly in under-resourced areas.
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