CS Duale SHA to pay claims based on approved hospital bed capacity
NAIROBI — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered all public hospitals to stop admitting patients beyond their approved bed capacity, reiterating that bed sharing equates to violation of patient’s dignity and a trigger for fraud.
Duale spoke during a session before the National Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, where he made clear that medical claims submitted to the Social Health Authority (SHA) must match licensed infrastructure. “Hospitals must operate within their licensed bed capacity. If a patient shares a bed, that claim will be treated as fraudulent,” Duale warned.
The SHA, now tasked with verifying all facility claims, will reject any health insurance requests that exceed bed limits. Duale said, “If facilities wish to admit more patients, they must invest in expanding their infrastructure. The government will not pay for overcrowded, undignified conditions.”
This directive marks a firm shift in how public healthcare institutions handle admissions under the new Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework. It reflects a broader policy to strengthen oversight, improve care, and prevent misuse of public funds.
The announcement comes amid rising concerns about overcrowding in public hospitals, where limited resources often force two or more patients to share a single bed. The Ministry of Health has labeled this practice unsafe and unethical.
Duale’s remarks came during a high-level retreat that brought together the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, and various stakeholders to review UHC rollout progress. The meeting emphasized the need for strict regulation and transparency in healthcare delivery.
Under the updated UHC guidelines, hospitals are required to meet patient care standards based on available infrastructure. Institutions found breaching these conditions risk penalties, including revocation of their SHA claim privileges.
The Ministry confirmed that no hospital will be allowed to bypass these rules by citing emergencies or high patient inflow. “We must stop normalizing institutional neglect. Quality of care begins with respect for patient dignity,” Duale stated.
The SHA has already begun reviewing hospital claim histories. Facilities with irregular patterns or suspicious claims will undergo full audits.
This enforcement push aligns with Kenya’s broader goal to reduce healthcare fraud and ensure that public health services remain accountable and equitable.
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