Expectant mothers registered under the Social Health Authority will now access free delivery services in public health facilities following the rollout of revised healthcare benefit packages by the government.
The new changes, announced under enhanced SHA packages, are also expected to improve support for cancer patients and individuals living with sickle cell anaemia by increasing financial coverage and expanding access to treatment services.
Previously, pregnant women seeking services under SHA were required to be fully compliant with their contributions before accessing maternal care at Level Two and Level Three hospitals.
Under the revised package, however, all registered mothers will receive delivery services free of charge regardless of their contribution status.
According to the Ministry of Health, funds have been set aside through the Primary Healthcare Fund to support mothers who are unable to pay SHA contributions.
“You can walk in and walk out in any Level Two and Three hospitals when you are expectant, you will get your ANC for free. When it comes to delivery, you will deliver for free. In a case you need a referral, you will be referred for free,” said Margaret Macharia, Deputy Director, Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel.
Under the arrangement, SHA will reimburse health facilities Ksh.10,000 for normal deliveries and Ksh.30,000 for caesarean section procedures.
The authority also confirmed that some Level Three facilities accredited by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council have been cleared to offer caesarean section services.
Officials said the programme aims to ensure all mothers, including teenage mothers, receive quality healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth regardless of their financial background.
The revised packages have also increased support for cancer patients, many of whom had previously raised concerns over insufficient annual medical cover.
Cancer patients will now receive treatment cover of up to Ksh.800,000, up from the previous Ksh.550,000 allocation.
“When it comes to diagnostics, it was just a loose definition that we will pay for your histopathology, but it didn’t say how many markers or times you will be done,” stated Macharia.
Under the revised benefits, patients undergoing cancer treatment will also access up to Ksh.2,500 per visit for holistic consultations for a maximum of four visits. The consultations will include services from oncologists, nutritionists, mental health specialists and palliative care providers.
Additional benefits include Ksh.5,000 for chemotherapy administration per treatment plan, up to Ksh.15,000 for chemo port insertion procedures and equipment, as well as full blood count tests valued at Ksh.500 per visit.
“The initial package had omitted supportive care treatment. You know when you undergo chemo or radiotherapy, you get illnesses like nausea, so now what has been defined in the package and capped at Ksh.10,000,” said Macharia.
The package has further increased allocations under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund from Ksh.150,000 to Ksh.400,000.
Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations welcomed the revised benefits package, describing it as a positive move towards improving healthcare access for patients.
However, the organisation urged the government to ensure services are easily accessible in all accredited facilities and called for faster approvals, efficient claims processing and reduced administrative delays within SHA systems.
