Health authorities have intensified a nationwide crackdown on medical fraud, shutting down several facilities accused of making suspicious claims under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme.
Speaking in Garissa on Saturday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the closure of 12 medical facilities over fraud linked to SHA.
Duale singled out Bungoma, Kisii, Homa Bay, Mandera and Wajir as the counties leading in suspicious and fictitious medical claims aimed at irregularly obtaining funds.
Eighteen facilities are already facing court proceedings, bringing the total number of facilities shut down since the crackdown began to 1,000.
Among those affected is Bungoma West Hospital, which was suspended from the provider panel on March 30 for 90 days over suspected fraudulent claims. The facility has been directed to transfer all patients to nearby SHA-contracted facilities immediately.
However, the hospital has dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying it serves a large number of patients who will be disenfranchised by the suspension.
“And these are mainly private hospitals that the SHA forensic auditors have flagged as facilities involved in serious fraud. We will protect public resources meant for the healthcare of our citizens,” said Duale.
Other facilities flagged and suspended include Baypharm Medical Centre in Homa Bay, Dawida Annex Hospital Ltd in Taita Taveta, Kerugoya Medical Centre in Kirinyaga and Raycos Health Centre in Mombasa. Also affected are Calvary Hope Medical Centre in Bungoma, Shamberere Dispensary in Kakamega, Kurafa Medical Centre in Kiambu and Umoja Three Medical Centre in Nairobi.
The CS warned that no amount of political interference will stop the crackdown.
“I want to tell the owners of these facilities that political parties will not help you, and so far we have 24 facilities undergoing forensic audit. We have a duty, the men and women I work with at the Ministry of Health have firm instructions under the law to protect public resources,” he said.
