SHA Rolls Out Advanced Biometric System
Patients will receive services faster, while hospitals will see reduced delays in getting payments because of investigations into fraud.
Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale announced the launch on Monday, saying the system will securely connect patients and hospital staff with the SHA claims paying platform. Photo/KBC Digital
By Juliet Jerotich
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has unveiled a new biometric identification and verification system designed to improve health care services and eliminate fraud.
Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale announced the launch on Monday, saying the system will securely connect patients and hospital staff with the SHA claims paying platform.
We are launching an improved verification tool that safeguards patients and health workers linked directly to the SHA claims system. This will make services quicker, more accurate, and fraud-free,” Duale wrote in a notice published on X.
Biometric verification has been part of Kenya’s health care for decades. In the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), patients used fingerprints to confirm their identity when they accessed health care. The system reduced waiting times by allowing instant access to services.
Despite its worth, the earlier system was sorely flawed. Stored prints were used by criminals, some of whom were doctors, to make false claims. They billed the insurance program for procedures not delivered or patients who never actually existed. This exploitation cost the government significant dollars and undermined trust by the public in the system.
The upgraded system, launched recently, has the purpose of closing these loopholes. It has advanced security features to prevent the misuse of biometric data. Following SHA, the platform will monitor the submission of claims more strongly and automatically identify suspicious transactions.
Officialdom believes the changes will make it extremely difficult to make fake claims. Patients will receive services faster, while hospitals will see reduced delays in getting payments because of investigations into fraud.
This is a big step towards creating a healthcare system that Kenyans believe in,” Duale noted. “With the use of modern technology, we are protecting public resources and making rightful beneficiaries receive quality care.”
The SHA system will be rolled out phase by phase in public and private hospitals. Training to medical staff is already underway in order to enable smooth uptake.
With the introduction of this cutting-edge biometric device, SHA has a vision to streamline operations, enhance accountability, and eventually provide a more efficient, more secure healthcare experience for all Kenyans.
About Author
