Healthcare providers across the country risk losing their contracts with the Social Health Authority (SHA) after the agency declared the use of accredited Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) is mandatory for the 2026/28 contracting cycle.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a notice issued on Tuesday, June 39, SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi said all contracted and prospective healthcare providers must have a certified HMIS that meets the technical integration requirements prescribed by the authority and the Digital Health Agency (DHA).

"Healthcare providers that do not meet the prescribed HMIS requirements will not be eligible for contracting, contract renewal or continued participation in SHA-funded schemes during the FY 2026/28 contracting cycle."

According to the authority, healthcare providers will be required to remain electronically connected to SHA's Centralised Digital Platform to facilitate service verification, claims processing and information exchange.

📌 What You Need to Know

The directive effectively requires all SHA-contracted healthcare providers to adopt accredited Health Management Information Systems integrated with the authority's digital platform, marking a major shift in the administration of the national health insurance scheme.

The move is intended to ensure uninterrupted service delivery while enhancing the efficiency and accountability of the country's digital health ecosystem.

Notably, the new requirement is anchored in both the SHA contract and the Digital Health Act, 2023, which obligate healthcare providers to maintain systems capable of collecting, processing, storing and retrieving beneficiaries' medical records.

A Health Management Information System (HMIS) is a digital platform used by hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities to manage patient records, treatment information, billing, appointments and other day-to-day medical services.

It replaces manual record-keeping by storing health information electronically.

Under the new requirements, every facility's health information system must comply with national digital health standards, integrate with the country's comprehensive health information system and adhere to the provisions of the Data Protection Act.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke