A renewed debate over accountability in public health financing has emerged amid growing scrutiny of flagship social protection programmes.
As Parliament intensifies oversight of state funded initiatives, questions are being raised about whether reporting mechanisms are keeping pace with the scale and complexity of recent reforms in the health sector.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has urged the Ministry of Health to publish comprehensive payment data for the Social Health Assurance (SHA) programme, saying transparency is critical to safeguarding public resources.
Speaking during a parliamentary engagement, Passaris said detailed disclosure would help lawmakers, auditors and the public assess how funds are being disbursed and whether the system is operating as intended.
She expressed concern that limited access to payment records could mask operational gaps or expose the programme to misuse.
According to Passaris, the shift to SHA marked a significant change in how health services are financed, making it necessary for oversight structures to be strengthened alongside implementation.
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She argued that timely and clear data would build confidence among contributors and health providers alike.
The Woman Representative noted that health facilities and beneficiaries have previously raised complaints ranging from delayed reimbursements to unclear billing procedures.
Without full visibility of payment flows, she warned, it becomes difficult to determine whether such challenges stem from technical glitches, policy design flaws or governance failures. Transparency is not an attack on reform, it is a tool to make reform work, she said.
The SHA programme was introduced as part of broader efforts to achieve universal health coverage by pooling contributions and ensuring equitable access to services.
The Ministry of Health has maintained that the system is being refined and that safeguards are in place to prevent abuse. Officials have previously said periodic audits and internal controls are guiding implementation.
However, Passaris insisted that proactive disclosure would complement these measures and reduce speculation about mismanagement.
She called for the release of disaggregated data showing payments to facilities, timelines for settlements and regional distribution of funds.
Such information, she said, would allow Parliament to play its constitutional role more effectively.
As the SHA continues to roll out, the pressure on the ministry to demonstrate accountability is expected to grow, with lawmakers signaling that transparency will remain central to future oversight debates. The outcome could shape public trust in health reforms for years ahead nationwide.
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