NAIROBI — The Social Health Authority (SHA) has launched a new biometric verification system aimed at tightening identity checks and ending fraudulent claims in Kenya’s public healthcare system. The announcement came on Monday, August 4, as Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale confirmed that the digital upgrade will directly link patients and hospital staff to SHA’s central claims system. The goal is to eliminate identity theft, reduce service delays, and ensure faster and cleaner claim processing.
“We are introducing a better identification and verification system that links patients and hospital staff securely to the SHA claims processing system for faster, fraud-free, and accurate service delivery,” CS Duale said in a post on X.
The biometric system captures and verifies fingerprints at the point of care. This method was first introduced under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), but the earlier version was widely abused. Health workers at some facilities were found using stored patient prints to file fake claims for services never rendered.
The SHA reform targets these loopholes. By upgrading and directly integrating patient verification into the national claims infrastructure, the authority aims to seal off ghost claims and streamline access to care.
Patients will now be required to authenticate their identity in real time before receiving treatment. The move is expected to cut processing time, increase accountability, and deter fraud rings that have drained public health funds in the past.
The shift is part of broader health reforms being rolled out under the SHA framework, which replaced NHIF in 2024. SHA now oversees a unified social health insurance model and aims to widen access to essential services while reducing misuse of public funds.
The Ministry of Health has not disclosed the cost of the system upgrade but it confirmed nationwide rollout is underway.
CS Duale also issued a warning to parastatal heads and healthcare providers: “Act within the law. This system is meant to serve the public, not to enrich dishonest players.”
The SHA said it will work with health workers and facilities to ensure full compliance and has committed to routine audits to detect and prevent misuse.
The biometric upgrade follows months of concern over healthcare fraud and slow claims processing. By centralizing verification and removing manual interventions, SHA hopes to restore public confidence in the national health scheme and ensure funds go directly to those in need.
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