A new twist has emerged in the debate over payments by the Social Health Authority (SHA) after Dr Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga appeared to dispute earlier claims made by her father, Dr Dan Gikonyo, over the money received by The Karen Hospital.
The development followed a phone conversation between President William Ruto and Dr Juliet Gikonyo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Karen Hospital, during a discussion on the country’s healthcare financing system.
Ruto made the call after Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris contacted Dr Dan Gikonyo, who is also a senior figure in the hospital’s management, over concerns surrounding SHA payments and reimbursements.
Dr Dan Gikonyo has previously raised concerns about the SHA system, particularly delays in settling claims submitted by private healthcare providers. His remarks have contributed to wider criticism from hospitals over the financial pressure created by delayed reimbursements.
However, during the phone call with President Ruto, Dr Juliet Gikonyo reportedly gave a different account of the hospital’s financial position. She revealed that SHA had paid The Karen Hospital more than Sh100 million.
Her response introduced a fresh twist into the discussion, with the President seeking clarification directly from the hospital’s chief executive on the actual payments received.
Dr Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga is a Kenyan epidemiologist, hospital administrator and corporate executive. Since August 20, 2020, she has served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Karen Hospital in Nairobi.
The exchange came amid heightened scrutiny of SHA, with private hospitals continuing to raise concerns over reimbursement timelines while the government maintains that the new health financing system is improving healthcare access and accountability.
The phone call effectively placed two accounts under scrutiny, with Dr Dan Gikonyo’s earlier concerns about SHA payments contrasted with the figure provided by Dr Juliet during her conversation with President Ruto.
The episode has added another layer to the ongoing debate over SHA, particularly on whether government payments to healthcare providers are reaching facilities in the manner and timeframe expected.