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 answerable for managing the brand new medical health insurance construction underneath the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Employers have been required to register their staff and their dependents with SHA by 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 susceptible teams, have entry to reasonably priced and high quality healthcare.
To raised perceive the general public notion of Kenya’s new healthcare reforms, GeoPoll not too long ago performed a survey on SHA /SHIF. The research sought to evaluate consciousness, understanding, and attitudes towards these initiatives, that are set to exchange 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 The contributors are of age 18 years outdated and above, with the most important share being between 25-35 years outdated (59%), and comprised 52% feminine and 48% male.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 school diploma holders. As well as, 73% acknowledged that they reside in city areas whereas 27% stay in rural areas.
Earnings
The survey outcomes indicated that a good portion of respondents (34%) earn lower than Kes. 10,000, adopted carefully by 31% who fall throughout the Kes. 10,001 – Kes. 30,000 earnings 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 proportion, 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 acquainted with 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 data
Tv is the first supply of data for respondents, with 27% indicating that they depend on it for updates about SHA and SHIF. Social media follows carefully behind as the primary supply of data for 25% of contributors. Radio can be a big channel, with 15% of respondents studying about SHA and SHIF by it. Moreover, 13% of contributors reported acquiring info from official authorities web sites. Phrase of mouth is one other essential supply, with 10% of respondents listening to about SHA and SHIF by casual conversations, whereas healthcare suppliers, akin 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 implies that whereas they’re acquainted with the idea, they could 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 function within the healthcare system.
However, 27% of respondents acknowledged having a restricted understanding of SHIF. This might point out an absence of clear or detailed info, or probably confusion concerning its features and companies. Moreover, an 8% minority acknowledged that they don’t perceive SHIF in any respect, highlighting a big hole in information or consciousness. This hole may consequence from components akin to restricted entry to info or communication limitations.
The Purpose of SHIF
The survey revealed various perceptions in regards to the objective of SHIF. A big 35% of respondents consider that SHIF is supposed to exchange NHIF with a more practical and improved insurance coverage mannequin. In the meantime, 28% view SHIF as a approach to supply reasonably priced medical health insurance for people throughout all earnings ranges. Moreover, 22% of contributors see SHIF as a program designed to supply free healthcare to all Kenyans. Nevertheless, 10% of respondents have been not sure about SHIF’s particular targets, indicating a spot in consciousness or understanding.
Expectations of SHIF
On this survey, we aimed to know the contributors’ expectations concerning the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Nearly all of respondents, 29%, indicated that they haven’t any particular expectations for SHIF. Shut behind, 23% expressed optimistic expectations, displaying a hopeful outlook for the fund’s future impression.
Moreover, 13% of respondents are optimistic that SHIF will result in improved healthcare companies, indicating a need 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
In accordance with 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 major cause for not enrolling. Moreover, 26% expressed issues about affordability. Moreover, 25% talked about that inadequate info was a barrier to registration, whereas 19% acknowledged a easy lack of curiosity. Some respondents (18%) reported going through difficulties throughout the enrollment course of, and 9% most well-liked personal insurance coverage choices over SHIF.
Utilization and Expertise of SHIF Amongst Enrolled Individuals
Of these enrolled within the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF), 63% reported that they haven’t but utilized their SHIF protection, then again, 37% have accessed the brand new insurance coverage companies.
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 companies offered. In the meantime, 23% reported a really poor expertise, highlighting issues or dissatisfaction with the healthcare companies or advantages they obtained.
In distinction, 20% of customers shared that their expertise was good, suggesting {that a} portion of enrollees felt their expectations have 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 superb, reflecting a optimistic outlook and satisfaction with the companies offered.
Healthcare companies to be prioritized underneath SHIF
Survey contributors recognized a number of healthcare companies that ought to be prioritized underneath the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). The best precedence was given to emergency medical companies, which 70% of respondents highlighted as important. Following carefully have been maternity and baby well being companies, valued by 68% of contributors. Moreover, 57% emphasised the necessity for improved administration of continual illnesses. Common outpatient companies and specialised care, akin to most cancers therapy, have been deemed important by 56% and 54% of respondents, respectively. Moreover, 40% of contributors pressured the significance of preventive care and well being promotion, whereas 39% known as for a better give attention to psychological well being companies.
SHIF challenges
The survey recognized a number of key challenges confronted by the Social Well being Insurance coverage Fund (SHIF). Essentially the most vital situation 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 have been highlighted by 46% of respondents, whereas 42% famous an absence of public consciousness about SHIF. Excessive prices for members have 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 dimension was 961, composed of random GeoPoll app customers above the age of 18. Because the survey was randomly distributed, the outcomes are barely skewed in direction of youthful respondents.
GeoPoll is dedicated to supporting well being organizations, NGOs, and governments in future well being challenges. Collectively, we are able to use knowledge to tell focused interventions, mitigate the impression of public well being crises, and construct extra resilient well being techniques for the long run. Our mobile-based surveys provide a novel and tried-and-tested technique to collect insights on illness unfold, public notion, and vaccine hesitancy, particularly in under-resourced areas.
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