inet Owoko
_: The Social Health Authority (SHA) has extended the deadline for healthcare facilities to complete new contracts by another two and a half months, a day after their existing contracts were due to lapse, amid complaints from providers about difficulties completing the online process.
In a notice dated October 15, SHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mercy Mwangangi said existing contracts, which were due to lapse on October 14, would remain in force until December 31, 2026, with the new contracting cycle beginning on January 1, 2027.
‘The extension provides facilities with additional time to complete outstanding contracting requirements, address challenges encountered during the process and ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to SHA beneficiaries,’ Dr Mwangangi said.
She said that the existing contracts will remain in force throughout the extension period, and beneficiaries will continue accessing services at facilities with valid contracts.
The authority also assured service providers of payment of claims submitted during the extension.
‘Valid claims lodged during this period will be honoured,’ Dr Mwangangi said.
This latest extension comes 10 days after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and the Council of Governors Health Committee agreed that the existing contracts, already extended to October 14, would not be extended further.
Healthcare providers have complained about difficulties completing the contracting process through SHA’s electronic platform, saying the requirements can change while they are filling in their applications and uploading supporting documents.
Some providers said they can enter facility details and submit part of the required information, only to find additional requirements or changes when they return to the portal the following day.
The platform is part of the HAKIKA contracting framework for the 2026-2029 cycle, launched in September to streamline the contracting process through digital applications, document uploads, licence verification, electronic signing of contracts and progress tracking.
The framework also involves transitioning SHA’s provider portal to the Health Management Information System (HMIS), a process the Ministry of Health said was expected to be completed by October 30, 2026. The ministry has also acknowledged concerns about system reliability as the transition continues.
The authority has stated that the previous moratorium on certain documents is no longer in effect and that all facilities must now submit the required documentation, including documents for which some facilities had previously been granted additional time.
Previously, a reprieve had been granted for certain requirements, including documents relating to the National Social Security Fund, the National Environment Management Authority, fire safety, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, provided that facilities were otherwise compliant.
Under the revised timeline, healthcare providers must complete the contracting process and ensure that their new contracts are signed and effective before the new cycle begins on January 1, 2027.