In a significant update regarding the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai announced that the onboarding of SHA employees will commence following the approval of new Human Resource instruments.
This announcement was made during a session with the Health Committee in Parliament on Tuesday.
“As a new organization, SHA must have its own HR instruments. That is the reason we have devolved the new HR instruments,” Kimtai explained. He emphasized that the onboarding process will depend on the approved staff establishment and job categories, noting that SHA’s staff structure differs from that of NHIF.
Kimtai revealed that once the HR instruments are approved, the government will announce job vacancies under the new health insurance program. He assured lawmakers that NHIF employees would be prioritized during recruitment but would need to apply for positions based on the new job classifications.
“We are basically at the transition stage and coming up with the new structure which will help SHA onboard the current staff of NHIF based on the criteria that are set out,” he stated.
This announcement comes just a week after the Ministry of Health confirmed that NHIF would continue to provide financial services amid ongoing court challenges.
“Pending the lifting of the Court orders, NHIF services will continue to be availed to all paid-up and eligible members,” the SHA statement noted.
