Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has descended on Kenyatta National Hospital to personally audit the Social Health Authority (SHA) systems, sending a strong message that administrative glitches will not be allowed to compromise patient lives.

In a hands-on display of leadership, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga spent Friday afternoon at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Oncology Centre. His mission was clear: to cut through the bureaucratic noise and see exactly how the new Social Health Authority (SHA) systems are working—or failing—on the ground. With the government pushing hard for a patient-centred healthcare model, the efficacy of the SHA is the litmus test for the entire Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

The Reality on the Ground

The transition to the SHA has been anything but smooth, with reports of system downtimes and registration hurdles causing anxiety among patients, particularly those requiring critical care like cancer treatment. PS Oluga’s visit was a direct response to these jitters. He engaged directly with patients and caregivers, offering assurances that the "teething problems" are being fixed in real-time.

"We are here to ensure that the system serves the patient, not the other way around," Oluga stated. He emphasized that administrative processes must never become a barrier to access. The PS reviewed the patient journey from registration to treatment, identifying bottlenecks that need immediate engineering. It is a race against time, as every minute of delay in an oncology ward can be a matter of life and death.

• Oncology Focus: The choice of the Cancer Centre was symbolic and strategic; cancer patients are the most vulnerable to system delays.
• System Efficiency: The review focused on the speed of claims processing and the verification of beneficiary details to reduce waiting times.
• Government Commitment: Oluga reiterated that the shift to SHA is irreversible but acknowledged the need for a more "human-centric" implementation.

A Promise to Keep

The government has staked its reputation on the success of SHA. PS Oluga’s boots-on-the-ground approach is a welcome change from boardroom policy-making, but the true measure of success will be felt in the queues. For the weary patients at KNH, reassurance is good, but efficient service is better.

The diagnosis is in: the system needs work. Now, the public waits to see if the prescription will work.