Patients in Bomet County will no longer have to travel long distances for specialised scans after the government commissioned a CT scan machine at Longisa County Referral Hospital, a move expected to ease pressure on families and cut the cost of referrals.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale presided over the commissioning, describing the new machine as a major boost to diagnostic services in Bomet and the wider South Rift region.
Speaking at the event, Duale said ongoing health reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA) were beginning to show real results on the ground, improving access to care, financing and accountability across the country.
“The Social Health Authority is no longer a proposal; it is working. Today, more than 28.8 million Kenyans are registered under SHA and are enjoying reliable health cover,” Duale said.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Esther Mwangangi backed the remarks with figures, saying millions of Kenyans were already benefiting from the new system.
“Over 8 million people have accessed services at local health facilities under SHA. So far, Sh130 billion has been collected, with Sh12 billion paid to primary healthcare facilities and more than Sh74 billion paid out through SHIF,” she said.
Duale also announced that from April 1, about 139,000 police and prison officers, together with their dependants, will start receiving health services under SHA, in a move aimed at expanding coverage to more public servants.
The Cabinet Secretary urged county governments and employers to ensure all workers are fully enrolled, warning that the success of the fund depends on universal participation.
“SHA enrollment is mandatory. Statutory deductions must be made at source. We will engage stakeholders, especially as UHC staff are expected to move to permanent and pensionable terms next year,” he said.
At the same time, Duale issued a warning to health facilities involved in fraudulent claims. He directed all dispensaries and hospitals to clearly display service charters to help patients understand what services are free or covered under SHA.
During the visit, the CS officially unveiled the Bomet Health Centre Service Charter, which sets the standard for service delivery and transparency in both public and private health facilities.
The charter outlines government-supported services, protects patients from overcharging and strengthens accountability. Health facilities will be required to display the charters prominently, clearly indicating which services are free or covered by SHA.
Bomet Health Centre became the first facility in the country to receive the Green Label Service Charter, with a national rollout planned.
On fraud, Duale said the government had already suspended many facilities over false claims.
“We have suspended facilities in more than 1,182 cases due to fraudulent claims, many of which are now under DCI investigations. No facility will be paid for services it has not provided,” he warned.
Bomet Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok said the county was working closely with the national government to roll out SHA, SHIF and other health reforms.
“Our engagement with the national government has focused on health matters, including SHA, SHIF, validation and registration. Bomet has a strong working relationship with the national government,” he said.
The governor added that many complaints about SHA were linked to lack of registration.
“Some people say SHA is not working, but when checked, they are not even registered,” Barchok noted.
He also revealed that 831 digital health equipment units had been delivered through the Digital Health Agency and will be distributed to health facilities across the county to improve efficiency and transparency.
The new CT scan machine at Longisa Hospital is expected to improve diagnosis, reduce costs for patients and significantly strengthen healthcare services for residents of Bomet County and neighbouring areas.