SHA to Launch Overseas Treatment Package for Kenyans Next Week
Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) will launch a new overseas care package next week, enabling citizens to receive specialised treatment in selected hospitals abroad.
The initiative was announced by SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi during an address to the Senate. Under the programme, Kenyans in need of advanced medical procedures not available locally will be referred to accredited hospitals abroad, including facilities in India, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
The list of partner hospitals currently includes Manipal Hospitals, Acibadem Group of Hospitals, Medical Point Izmir Hospital, Yatharth Hospital, Sitecare Hospital, KIMS Hospital, Sarvodaya Hospital, and the SAGE Group, with more institutions set to join. Training is underway to ensure these hospitals can process claims through SHA’s electronic system
Patients will first be assessed at a recognised Kenyan healthcare facility, where a doctor will determine the need for overseas treatment. If required, the patient will receive a formal referral to one of the approved hospitals.
The foreign hospital will then submit an admission request electronically, which SHA will verify against the patient’s membership status before authorising care. Treatment costs will be covered up to a ceiling of KSh 500,000, with hospitals required to submit discharge summaries and claims for settlement after the patient’s release.
The programme also requires that patients returning from treatment abroad continue their care at a designated local facility for follow-up. This ensures that any overseas treatment is integrated into the patient’s ongoing healthcare management.
