The government has halted overseas medical referrals funded by the Social Health Authority (SHA), following revelations of abuse by cartels and unregulated foreign hospitals. The move comes as authorities introduce stricter vetting to curb corruption and promote local healthcare services.
Speaking at the launch of the Digital Health Transformation and TaifaCare Caravan in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenyans seeking SHA support for treatment abroad will have to wait longer as the Ministry of Health enforces new rules.
The suspension will remain until reforms are fully implemented.
“In the next week, I will gazette the treatments that are not available in our country. The days of going overseas for treatment just because a doctor has referred you will no longer be there,” Duale said.
He explained that a stakeholder review is ongoing to identify treatments unavailable locally, which will alone qualify for overseas referral. Foreign hospitals must now be vetted, registered with SHA, and hold valid contracts to receive payment.
“The hospitals you are being referred to in India and elsewhere must first have a contract with SHA. We have had incidents where referral systems have not been genuine. Some people get commissions for referring patients to foreign countries for treatment, and that is what we want to stop,” he added.
Duale noted that cartels have exploited the system by sending patients abroad for procedures available in Kenya purely for financial gain. To prevent this, an independent benefit and advisory body at the University of Nairobi will vet foreign hospitals and determine which meet SHA accreditation standards.
Under the new framework, SHA will fund only overseas treatments unavailable in Kenya.
The CS highlighted that many procedures often sought abroad—including PET scans, advanced imaging, kidney transplants, open-heart surgeries, and joint or spinal treatments—are already provided locally.
In January, the ministry had announced plans to fast-track the review of the overseas benefits package following repeated complaints from the public.
On employment matters, Duale assured that all health workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme will now be employed under Salaries and Remuneration Commission-approved terms.
“All UHC workers are going to be employed under SRC rates, on permanent and pensionable terms. Tomorrow, I have a meeting with the Council of Governors, and we are working on modalities to transition them. The story of UHC workers, interns, and CBAs is now a closed chapter during my tenure as CS,” he said, adding that demonstrations by health workers are now a thing of the past.
Duale hailed the rollout of the Digital Health System as transformative for Kenya’s healthcare sector.
“SHA and TaifaCare are a transformational step in building a health system that works for every Kenyan. From today, wananchi in Uasin Gishu and across the country can register, contribute, and access services with dignity without fear of being locked out due to cost or bureaucracy,” he said.
He further explained that Kenyans can access services conveniently through USSD (*147#), the mobile app, and community registration desks.
“With TaifaCare, health is now in your hands. Through USSD (*147#), the app, and community registration desks, we have made access simple, transparent and inclusive,” Duale added.
The launch was attended by Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Chelilim Bii, and other national and county officials.
