The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has condemned the newly introduced Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), describing it as a “capsizing ship” that is destined to fail.
The union, led by Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, is calling for an immediate overhaul of the SHIF, which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in November 2023.
“SHIF is a capsizing ship! There is too much bilge water for it to sail,” declared Dr. Atellah in the press release, reflecting the union’s dissatisfaction with the new insurance model. According to KMPDU, SHIF’s co-payment system is a “fraud” that benefits private insurance companies at the expense of affordable public healthcare.
“We have repudiated the act from November 2023, with one message: it will deny Kenyans access to healthcare,” the statement reads, emphasizing that SHIF fails to meet the needs of the public. KMPDU argues that the comprehensive medical cover provided by NHIF was far superior, accusing the new scheme of prioritizing corporate interests.
The union also criticized the financial burden SHIF places on civil servants. Dr. Atellah stated, “For civil servants, this is a double robbery and tragedy that we cannot take lying down. We relinquished our medical allowance for comprehensive medical cover, which has now been removed, and yet we are expected to pay five times more—this is insane.”
KMPDU has already taken legal action, filing cases in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. “We have taken this fight to the courts, including the Court of Appeal,” the statement continues. KMPDU is demanding urgent reforms and has vowed to continue its efforts to restore a system that works in the interest of the Kenyan people.
The union also warned that the ongoing defunding of public healthcare is part of a larger plan to push more Kenyans toward private insurance. With SHIF tariffs now forcing many to dig deeper into their pockets, KMPDU’s position remains clear: the current system is unsustainable and must be replaced.
