Aga Khan partners with SHA through signing an MoU

By Mercy Kachenge

Nairobi, Kenya: Under the MoU, Aga Khan University Hospital will perform kidney transplants and heart surgeries at SHA-approved rates, with no additional out-of-pocket costs to patients beyond SHA coverage.

The CS noted a significant achievement in government investment in the health sector, stating that close to 5.3 billion was recently paid to SHA, with an additional 11.3 billion paid to primary health workers last month. These funds are a broader effort to ensure that credible facilities operate in the country.

 CS Duale reaffirmed commitment to ensure that all citizens are provided with access to affordable and quality health care, stating that health is just as important as the security of our country.

‘’This partnership is aimed at providing critical financial protection to eligible SHA patients requiring Kidney Transplants and various Cardiac Surgeries services that might otherwise be beyond their financial reach, exceeding the coverage provided by the SHA Tariff, he stated.

‘’As many of you are aware, the enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 is a significant milestone in fulfilling the provisions of Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to the highest attainable standards of health. This landmark legislation establishes three pivotal funds to strengthen our health system:

It is with these priorities in mind that the Social Health Insurance Act was enacted — to support the journey toward UHC by minimizing out-of-pocket payments and reducing user fees for health services.

‘’As of 2022, out-of-pocket health expenditure in Kenya stood at 24.3% of total health spending, with a significant portion driven by the rising costs of managing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our country.’’

The economic impact of NCDs is severe in that, while general illnesses reduce household income by an average of 13.63 percent, NCDs caused a 28.64 percent decline, disproportionately affecting low-income families. These made many households push further into poverty, reducing their access to essential care.

The Ministry of Health revealed that data indicate over 11,000 Kenyans travel abroad annually for medical care, often driven by the perception that overseas treatment is superior and more affordable, a belief that does not always reflect reality.. While certain specialized procedures may not yet be widely available locally, many of the treatments sought abroad are accessible right here in Kenya. This reflects the Compounding challenge, which is the rising trend of medical tourism.

In 2024 alone, Kenyans spent an estimated KES 14.7 billion on overseas medical treatment, up sharply from KES 9 billion in 2016/17. These figures do not account for indirect costs such as air travel, accommodation, meals, and caregiver expenses, which further compound the financial burden on families.

Duale underscored the urgent need for a dedicated health financing strategy for NCDs, one that actively subsidizes treatment costs and shields families from financial hardship.

Today, in alignment with this vision and the mandate of the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority (SHA), we are proud to announce a strategic partnership with Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). This collaboration signifies a major step in our commitment to delivering accessible, quality healthcare to all Kenyans.

Duale highlighted that under the partnership between SHA and Aga Khan University Hospital, subsidized kidney transplant surgeries will be provided to patients who meet clinical eligibility criteria and demonstrate financial need. For those qualifying as determined by the SHA mean testing instrument, the hospital will cover costs exceeding the KSh 700,000 covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Furthermore, he also stated that the subsidized cardiac surgeries, including critical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve replacements, will also be available for eligible patients in need of advanced cardiac care.

‘’This initiative represents a significant step forward in reducing catastrophic health expenditures, particularly for Kenya’s most vulnerable populations. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no Kenyan is denied life-saving treatment due to financial constraints, he added.

Duale urged Aga Khan University Hospital to generate evidence on this model, providing valuable insights that will enable healthcare institutions across all sectors, public, private, and faith-based, to adopt and scale this approach, ensuring that subsidized services reach SHA beneficiaries in need of critical care.

He called upon healthcare facilities to implement the SHA Tariff and Benefits Package, reinforcing their collective commitment to equitable healthcare access, minimizing financial burden to families and communities.

Duale acknowledged Aga Khan University Hospital for the meaningful collaboration and reaffirmed that the MoH stands ready to support this initiative and similar efforts as we work towards a healthcare system that is inclusive, equitable, and just for all Kenyans.