Hospitals and other healthcare providers across Kenya have until September 30, 2026, to complete new contracts with the Social Health Authority (SHA) or risk losing access to SHA beneficiaries.
SHA said current contracts will expire at 11:59 p.m. on September 30, with providers required to have executed new agreements for the 2026–2029 contracting cycle before October 1.
The authority has warned that facilities without an executed contract will no longer be permitted to provide services to SHA beneficiaries. Their access to the SHA provider portal will also be switched off.
The new contracting cycle, known as HAKIKA, is designed to run from October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. The framework covers services financed through the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
The Ministry of Health says the new framework is intended to address concerns raised during the previous contracting cycle, including payment delays, claims processing, pre-authorisation, tariffs, system reliability and empanelment. A new electronic contracting platform allows providers to submit applications, upload documents, verify licences, execute agreements and track their applications digitally.
SHA has also asked facilities that have not completed the process to make arrangements for patients receiving ongoing treatment to be transferred to contracted facilities. The move is intended to minimise possible interruptions in care when the existing contracts expire.
The deadline comes as healthcare providers continue to raise concerns over aspects of the new contracting terms, including provisions relating to payments and delayed claims. SHA, however, has maintained the September 30 deadline.
With only days remaining before the current contracts expire, healthcare facilities are under pressure to complete outstanding requirements and ensure they remain eligible to serve patients covered by SHA.
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