A trio of High Court judges in Nairobi said the lack of public participation in the formulation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) makes it unconstitutional.

The new fund, aimed at providing comprehensive health coverage to Kenyans, would replace the conventional National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) SHIF had been scheduled for a rollout in October this year, ending the tenure of NHIF established in 1966.

Kenyans will continue leveraging the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for medical services after the High Court in Nairobi ruled against the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). 

A trio of High Court judges declared on July 12 that SHIF, the new statutory health cover, was unconstitutional and was sanctioned without public participation.'

Therefore NHIF will be in force for the eligible members in the course of the case in court. "Pending the lifting of the Court orders and within the 45 day-stay order period, the NHIF services will continue to be availed to all paid up and eligible members.

The service continuation through NHIF's existing framework will ensure that there is no gap in health financing. We want to reassure you that all NHIF obligations will be honoured as per existing contracts with service providers and Fund members.

All preparatory activities necessary to ensure the success of SHA will continue to be undertaken in tandem with the efforts to ensure full compliance with the Court orders," said SHA. Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/kenya/556580-kenyans-continue-benefitting-nhif-cover-court-ruling-affecting-sha-operations/  Tuko