Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended proposed amendments to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) regulations, saying they will widen access to maternal health services and boost financial assistance for cancer patients.
Testifying before the Senate Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on Thursday, Duale said the Tariffs for Healthcare Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, are designed to improve household financial protection and lower out-of-pocket health spending.
The committee, led by Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya, is reviewing Legal Notice No. 78 of 2026, which proposes updates to healthcare tariffs and benefit packages within the Social Health Insurance framework.
One major change is the creation of a comprehensive maternity, neonatal and child health package under the Primary Healthcare Fund.
The package would cover antenatal care, delivery services, Caesarean sections, newborn care, immunisation, nutritional support and postnatal services for all registered beneficiaries, including those who cannot meet their SHIF contribution requirements.
If approved, normal deliveries would be reimbursed at Sh10,000, while Caesarean section deliveries would receive government support of up to Sh30,000.
Duale told senators the regulations seek to ensure mothers and children can obtain essential health services without being pushed into financial difficulty.
The amendments also aim to strengthen cancer treatment support through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
Annual assistance for chronic cancer management would rise from Sh150,000 to Sh400,000 per patient.
The Health CS said that, together with existing SHIF benefits, eligible cancer patients could access up to Sh800,000 annually for treatment.
The expanded package includes consultations, chemotherapy administration, laboratory tests, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, PET scans, CT imaging and other specialist oncology services.
Duale said more than 43,000 patients have already benefited from the oncology package, with over 3,000 completing treatment under the expanded programme.
He said the measures would advance Universal Health Coverage by reducing out-of-pocket costs, shielding families from catastrophic health expenses and improving access to essential maternal and cancer care.
The Cabinet Secretary said the amendments were prepared after consultations with healthcare professionals, county governments, civil society organisations, patient advocacy groups and members of the public.
He added that the reforms drew on health technology assessments, actuarial reviews and recommendations from the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel.
During the session, Duale also briefed senators on wider health sector reforms supporting implementation of the social health insurance programme.
He said the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has recorded a 92 per cent facility fill rate, increasing the availability of medicines and health commodities in public health facilities.
The CS also pointed to progress under the National Equipment Service Programme and said 11 IVF centres have been approved across the country to expand access to specialised reproductive health services.
Duale further informed the committee that the Social Health Authority has settled 84 per cent of submitted claims, a step he said has improved healthcare financing and service delivery.