President William Ruto has unveiled a new health financing model aimed at easing the burden of medical insurance contributions for informal sector workers.
The initiative, named ‘Lipa SHA Pole Pole’, will allow Kenyans to pay their annual Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions in small, manageable instalments.
“To address persistent challenges such as irregular premium contributions among informal sector workers, we are introducing an innovative and inclusive payment solution called Lipa SHA Pole Pole,” President Ruto announced.Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, the President explained that contributors will now have the option to pay daily, weekly, or monthly, based on their financial ability.
“This initiative ensures families maintain continuous health coverage without financial strain, while simultaneously promoting the sustainability of the health insurance fund,” added President Ruto.The programme is a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, Mobile Network Operators, Financial Institutions, and the Hustler Fund.
President Ruto also outlined reforms in the provision of medical equipment to public hospitals. Moving away from the Managed Equipment Services (MES) model, the government has adopted a new approach under the National Equipment Supply Programme.
“Under this new model, the national government, in collaboration with county governments, engages directly with equipment manufacturers and suppliers to deploy critical medical equipment based on county-specific needs,” he said.He emphasized that payments will now follow a fee-for-service model aligned with gazetted SHA tariffs.
“This output-based financing mechanism ensures that facilities are reimbursed only for actual services rendered,” said the President.He explained that, “It guarantees the availability, functionality, and quality of medical services across public health institutions.”
The announcements mark a significant shift in health sector policy, aimed at improving access, efficiency, and transparency in service delivery.
