SHA gives hospitals 3 months to adopt digital systems

Healthcare providers across the country have been given three months to fully integrate their systems with the Health Management Information System (HMIS) or risk losing their contracts with the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The directive was issued on Monday during a stakeholder engagement forum in Nairobi convened by the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Agency (DHA) to discuss the transition from the SHA Provider Portal to a new integrated digital platform.

SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi said the migration is a key step in improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery under the Taifa Care programme.

"Within the next three months, I expect all providers to be fully integrated. If not, we will have no option but to decontract non-compliant facilities," Mwangangi said.

She said the integration will streamline claims processing, reduce delays in reimbursements and enhance accountability across the healthcare system.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the transition represents the next phase of Kenya's digital health transformation and is critical to the successful implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

"A robust digital ecosystem that seamlessly connects providers, patients, regulators and healthcare financiers is essential to the success of Taifa Care," said Duale.

According to the Ministry of Health, 11,034 healthcare facilities have so far been accredited by SHA.

The government has also begun phasing out the existing SHA Provider Portal as it moves towards a fully integrated, paperless health system.

SHA said the new digital platform is expected to improve operational efficiency, accelerate claims reimbursement and strengthen accountability throughout Kenya's healthcare sector.

On Monday, the government said it has deployed 6,784 healthcare interns across the country under the 2026/2027 Internship Programme, backed by a Sh9.316 billion investment aimed at strengthening Kenya's health workforce and accelerating the delivery of quality healthcare.

The deployment, announced by the Ministry of Health, is part of the government's drive to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The new cohort comprises 875 Medical Officer Interns, 69 Dental Officer Interns, 616 Pharmacist Interns, 2,424 Bachelor of Science nursing officer interns, 705 Bachelor of Science Clinical Officer Interns and 2,096 Diploma Clinical Officer Interns.

According to the ministry, the internship programme is the result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Health, county governments, professional regulatory councils, training institutions, professional associations, unions and development partners.

The ministry said the partnership has enhanced transparency, accountability and efficiency in the placement process while ensuring healthcare professionals are deployed equitably across the country.

The interns enter the health sector at a critical time as Kenya rolls out key reforms to improve access to quality healthcare.

They are expected to support the implementation of the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan, the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative, the Social Health Authority (SHA), quality improvement programmes and the ongoing digitisation of health services.