Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has responded to mounting concerns from healthcare providers over delays in government payments, saying the disbursement of funds under the new national health financing framework is still ongoing and subject to strict verification.
Speaking in Garissa County on Sunday, January 25, Duale said claims submitted by health facilities must first undergo clinical review to confirm their accuracy before any money is released.
His remarks come at a time when public, private and faith-based health facilities across the country have raised alarm over delayed reimbursements, warning that the situation is affecting service delivery and daily operations.
According to the CS, more than 10,000 health facilities have already been contracted and are currently offering services under the new financing system.
“The verification of claims is a continuous process,” Duale said, adding that the reviews are meant to ensure facilities are paid correctly and public funds are used as intended.
Duale outlined the amounts already disbursed, noting that Ksh13 billion has been released under the Primary Health Care framework to support preventive and frontline services. He said another Ksh75 billion has been paid through the Social Health Insurance Fund to cater for both essential and specialised treatment.
He further disclosed that Ksh3.5 billion has been paid under the Public Officers Medical Scheme, while Ksh1 billion has gone to the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund to support patients requiring urgent and long-term care.
Despite the payments, health facilities say delays in reimbursements have left them struggling to stay afloat. Some hospitals have reported difficulties paying staff, suppliers and utility bills, while others have warned they may be forced to scale down services.
Murang’a County recently flagged unpaid claims running into hundreds of millions of shillings, prompting a response from the Social Health Authority, which later pledged to clear the outstanding amounts. Similar concerns have been raised by private hospitals, with some facilities already asking patients to pay cash as they wait for government reimbursements.
Faith-based hospitals have also been affected. In Kakamega County, services under the Social Health Authority were temporarily suspended at a Catholic-sponsored hospital before the government stepped in to resolve the standoff.
Duale acknowledged that while substantial payments have been made under the Social Health Authority, the government is still dealing with significant arrears inherited from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund.
He maintained that the government remains committed to settling outstanding claims, insisting that accountability and transparency will guide the process.
The CS said the Ministry of Health will continue engaging stakeholders and issuing updates as claim reviews progress and payments are released in line with the law.