The government has issued a fresh warning to health facilities accused of charging patients for services that are either free or already covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the practice amounts to exploitation of sick Kenyans.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said hospitals must immediately stop levying illegal fees and instead prioritise transparency, especially for patients seeking care under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
In a statement released on Monday, January 19, Muthoni directed health facilities to prominently display service charters outlining the services they offer and the costs involved, saying patients have a right to know what care is available before being registered or billed.
“I have seen patients visit a facility, and the facility does not give them information on what services are on offer,” the PS said. “In some cases, a hospital does not have laboratory services, but instead of informing the patient, they register them first and only later ask them to seek the service elsewhere.”
She noted that such practices inconvenience patients and expose them to unnecessary costs, particularly when services are already covered through SHA.
“It would be important to have charters displayed in our facilities so that patients know exactly what is offered at facilities X, Y or Z,” Muthoni added.
The Public Health PS also raised concern over reports of health workers demanding small, unofficial payments for services that are meant to be free, describing the trend as extortion and a serious abuse of public trust.
“Please, do not steal from the unwell,” she said, warning that even minor charges for SHA-covered services are illegal and unacceptable.
Muthoni said the Ministry of Health will deploy its officers to investigate complaints and take action against facilities found charging patients despite coverage under UHC. She cautioned that rogue institutions risk being shut down or facing legal consequences.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage, noting that the Kenya Kwanza administration is investing heavily in healthcare to ensure services are accessible and affordable to all Kenyans.
The warning comes months after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale flagged a separate scam targeting Kenyans seeking to register for SHA. At the time, Duale revealed that some individuals were exploiting low public awareness by charging people for SHA registration, despite the process being entirely free.
The Ministry has since urged Kenyans to report any cases of illegal charges or misinformation, saying no one should be denied healthcare or forced to pay for services already funded by public resources.