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 reaching 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 accountable for managing the brand new medical health insurance construction underneath the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Employers had been required to register their staff 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 health insurance scheme underneath SHA. It’s designed to make sure that all Kenyans, together with these within the casual sector and weak teams, have entry to reasonably priced and high quality healthcare.
To raised perceive the general public notion of Kenya’s new healthcare reforms, GeoPoll lately performed a survey on SHA /SHIF. The research sought to evaluate consciousness, understanding, and attitudes towards these initiatives, that are set to interchange 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 Data Ranges
- Notion of Accessibility and Affordability
- SHA/SHIF Utilization
- SHA/SHIF Challenges
Demographic Overview
The survey gathered suggestions from 961 respondents in Kenya. The contributors are of age 18 years outdated and above, with the most important share being between 25-35 years outdated (59%), and comprised 52% feminine and 48% male.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% dwell 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 revenue 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 share, 7%, earn between Kes. 100,001 and Kes. 250,000, with solely 4% making greater than Kes. 250,000.
Consciousness and Data 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% haven’t 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 primary supply of knowledge for 25% of contributors. Radio can also be a big channel, with 15% of respondents studying about SHA and SHIF via it. Moreover, 13% of contributors 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, similar to docs and nurses, are influential sources for an additional 10% of contributors.
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 means that whereas they’re accustomed to the idea, they might not absolutely 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 an absence of clear or detailed data, or probably confusion relating to its capabilities 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 similar to restricted entry to data or communication boundaries.
The Purpose of SHIF
The survey revealed numerous perceptions in regards to the goal of SHIF. A major 35% of respondents consider that SHIF is supposed to interchange NHIF with a simpler and improved insurance coverage mannequin. In the meantime, 28% view SHIF as a manner to supply reasonably priced medical health insurance for people throughout all revenue ranges. Moreover, 22% of contributors see SHIF as a program designed to supply free healthcare to all Kenyans. Nevertheless, 10% of respondents had been not sure about SHIF’s particular objectives, indicating a niche in consciousness or understanding.
Expectations of SHIF
On this survey, we aimed to know the contributors’ expectations relating to the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). The vast majority of respondents, 29%, indicated that they haven’t any particular expectations for SHIF. Shut behind, 23% expressed constructive expectations, exhibiting a hopeful outlook for the fund’s future influence.
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 contributors 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
Based on the survey, 60% of the contributors 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 an absence of belief within the system as their main purpose for not enrolling. Moreover, 26% expressed considerations 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 through the enrollment course of, and 9% most well-liked non-public insurance coverage choices over SHIF.
Utilization and Expertise of SHIF Amongst Enrolled Members
Of these enrolled within the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF), 63% reported that they haven’t but utilized their SHIF protection, however, 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 considerations 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 had been met. 16% rated their expertise as poor, pointing to areas of enchancment wanted. Nevertheless, 14% of respondents indicated that their expertise with SHIF was excellent, reflecting a constructive outlook and satisfaction with the providers offered.
Healthcare providers to be prioritized underneath SHIF
Survey contributors recognized a number of healthcare providers that must be prioritized underneath 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 had been maternity and youngster well being providers, valued by 68% of contributors. Moreover, 57% emphasised the necessity for improved administration of continual illnesses. Common outpatient providers and specialised care, similar to most cancers therapy, had been deemed important by 56% and 54% of respondents, respectively. Moreover, 40% of contributors careworn the significance of preventive care and well being promotion, whereas 39% referred to as for a better deal with 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 challenge was corruption and mismanagement, which affected 75% of respondents. Restricted entry to high quality healthcare amenities was a serious concern for 48% of contributors. Moreover, technical and system points had been highlighted by 46% of respondents, whereas 42% famous an absence of public consciousness about SHIF. Excessive prices for members had been a fear for 37% of these surveyed, and 34% cited supplier reimbursement points as a big problem that disrupts service supply and total effectiveness.
Methodology/About this Survey
This Unique Survey was run through the GeoPoll cellular software 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 the 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 influence of public well being crises, and construct extra resilient well being methods for the longer term. Our mobile-based surveys supply a singular and tried-and-tested approach to collect insights on illness unfold, public notion, and vaccine hesitancy, particularly in under-resourced areas.
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