Barriers to Accessing Level 4, 5, and 6 Health Facilities Under SHA Regulations.
Patients in Kenya encounter significant barriers when trying to access Level 4, 5, and 6 health facilities due to regulations established by the Primary Health Care Act. This legislation mandates that individuals must first seek care at dispensaries and health centers before obtaining referrals to higher-level facilities. Unfortunately, many of these primary facilities remain in poor condition and lack essential services.
For instance, a patient like Ambela finds herself unable to access better-equipped healthcare options, such as Tabata Mission Hospital, because of the restrictions imposed by the SHA regulations. According to the Act, patients must visit Level 2 and 3 facilities before obtaining a referral, yet many of these facilities struggle to meet basic healthcare needs. Ambela expressed her frustrations to Citizen TV, stating, “Ukienda hospitali hakuna madawa. Ukienda hospitali kubwa unaambiwa urudi hizi hospitali ndogo ndogo ndio utumwe hio kubwa…. hizi ndogo madawa hakuna.”
Residents like Grace Mukami have echoed similar sentiments, noting the inadequacies of primary facilities: “Hii SHA imekuja hata hatuelewi mahali tutaanzia. Tukikuja hapa hakuna madawa; tunataka services zilitwe hapa.”
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Nurses at these facilities, who requested anonymity, reported receiving patient registration gadgets. However, these facilities lack connections to the national power grid and internet access, creating additional challenges. Moreover, they indicated that they hadn’t received training on assisting patients with registration. Ambela’s experience highlights this frustration: “Tulienda Tabata Mission Hospital; mzee alikwenda kujiandikisha akapata madaktari wakamwambia arudi na marriage certificate.”
The situation remains grim in other areas, such as Kericho County. Samuel Koros, a resident of Kaptaket, shared, “Patients are stranded; they are told to pay for medicine instead of SHA covering it as it should. We appeal to the government: instead of focusing on Gachagua’s impeachment, let them address SHA issues. Patients are suffering.”
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Similarly, Festus Korir faced obstacles when trying to process his father’s discharge from Kapkatet Level 4 Hospital. Despite being current on his SHIF contributions, their system fails to recognize his father’s details. This has led to growing concerns about possibly facing a hefty hospital bill. Korir lamented, “We are having a lot of trouble with SHA. It’s difficult to register; the system rejects us. We were sent to a cyber café and told the registration was successful, but when we come here, it doesn’t show in the system.”
The ongoing struggle reflects a broader standoff between the government and faith-based organizations over the referral system. These organizations argue that the current regulations deny patients their right to choose their preferred healthcare providers.
In conclusion, patients face numerous hurdles when trying to access higher-level healthcare facilities due to SHA regulations. The requirement to navigate through poorly equipped primary facilities, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and systemic failures, leaves many without the necessary medical care. To improve healthcare access, the government must address these regulatory challenges and ensure that patients can receive care at their preferred facilities.
Barriers to Accessing Level 4, 5, and 6 Health Facilities Under SHA Regulations.
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