Duale trades accusations with MPs over state of affairs at SHA

Drama unfolded in Parliament after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale traded accusations with members of The National Assembly’s Health Committee over the state of affairs at the Social Health Authority (SHA).

While members took issue with lack of transparency and errors in payments, system failures and biased patient referrals, Duale accused them of insincerity and the crackdown on fraudulent SHA claims.

In the heat of the moment, the CS resorted to accusing MP Antony Kibagendi of operating two health facilities that were closed by the Ministry in the swoop on fraudulent SHA claims.

The CS was at pains to explain erroneous payments, lack of transparency in payments, system failures as much as four times a month, weak communication, biased patient referrals, inadequate training leading to inefficiency in claims approvals and Marginalization of Teenage mothers under SHA.

The Committee Chair Dr. James Nyikal took issue with the erroneous payment of Ksh 16 million to a facility in Nyeri County that was meant for the county referral hospital.

The MPs blamed unskilled SHA officials for the frequent system failures that bogged down service delivery.