SHA to slash payments for clinics that withhold medicines
Kenya's Social Health Authority (SHA) is implementing a new policy to reduce payments to healthcare clinics that fail to dispense the full range of prescribed medicines. The move aims to ensure patients receive the complete care package covered by the Primary Healthcare Fund.
Why it matters
This policy shift highlights efforts to improve healthcare accountability and service delivery standards in public health systems.
SHA building/FILE The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced a new accountability measure that will link part of payments to contracted primary healthcare facilities to the proportion of prescribed medicines they dispense to patients.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi said the move is aimed at addressing gaps identified in the dispensing of medicines under the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Fund.
SHA said the PHC benefit package covers the "complete episode of care" in line with the Ministry of Health treatment guidelines. This includes consultation, diagnosis, clinically indicated investigations, treatment and prescribed medicines.
However, the authority said it had established that some contracted facilities were not providing the full package of care, leaving some beneficiaries without all the medicines covered under the scheme.
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