The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has sharply criticized the Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing it of massive failures in rolling out its flagship digital health systems worth billions of shillings.
In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account on Wednesday, RUPHA said the SHA has failed to deliver critical technology platforms to curb fraud, manage patient information, monitor service quality, and track medicines.
“Let us break down the problems with the SHA failed fraud detection (SHA ERP), failed beneficiary management platform, non-existent Quality Management System and what the recently launched ‘Kenya Pharmaceutical Information System – Track and Trace,’” the association said.
RUPHA pointed to four key areas of concern, starting with the SHA claims system, which it says rejects valid claims but has allegedly processed payments to “ghost hospitals.”
“SHA eClaims System – rejects valid claims but can pay ghost hospitals. Apparently, SHA is currently procuring one after APEIRO failed to deliver a ghost-proof one,” the statement read.
The association also raised doubts over the Kenya Pharmaceutical Information System, warning that the Sh2.5 billion Track and Trace system, launched by Health CS Aden Duale, and the Sh2.46 billion Drug Utilization Review may fail to ensure accountability in pharmaceutical management.
On quality assurance, RUPHA noted that despite a Sh1.58 billion allocation, the SHA has yet to put in place a fully functional Quality Management System.
“Quality Management System, Sh1.58 billion (enough to sort out KNH – NHIF arrears). Non-existent,” the group stated.
The association further criticized the approach to provider training, claiming that billions allocated to Training, Support and Customer Education (Sh7 billion) have only resulted in virtual sessions via Zoom and Teams, leaving public hospitals inadequately prepared.
RUPHA accused the Ministry of Health of deflecting blame onto health workers instead of addressing system inefficiencies.
“So while the CS Health Aden Duale daily calls Kenyan hospitals cartels and Kenyan doctors fraudsters, who is protecting Kenyans from the actual ones?” the association posed.
 has sharply criticized the Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing it of massive failures in rolling out its flagship digital health systems worth billions of shillings.){kind=link}