Cancer patients across Kenya are set to get relief in the cost of treatment after the government increased the oncology care package under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by KSh 250,000 following widespread public concern over the rising cost of cancer treatment.
On Monday, March 16, Raymond Omollo, the Interior Principal Secretary, announced that the oncology package has been raised from KSh 550,000 to KSh800,000 per patient.
Under the SHA programme, the oncology package caters for a range of cancer treatment services including diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, surgical procedures, palliative care, medical consumables, and specialised imaging such as PET/CT scans and MRIs provided at contracted health facilities.
According to the government, the enhanced package is expected to ease the financial strain that many families and patients face while seeking cancer treatment.
In a statement, SHA reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving cancer care across the country through policy reforms and expanded healthcare infrastructure.
“In line with this commitment, SHA has enhanced the oncology benefits package from KSh550,000 to KSh800,000 per patient, significantly easing the financial burden of treatment for many Kenyan families,” the authority stated.
The government is also pushing to establish more specialised cancer treatment facilities, particularly in underserved regions. Omollo revealed that the construction of the Kisii Cancer Centre is currently about 30 per cent complete and is expected to serve communities across the South Nyanza region once finished.
He noted that work on the third floor of the facility is ongoing and expected to continue through mid-April, while construction of the chemotherapy centre block will begin next week.
The announcement follows recent remarks by Mercy Mwangangi, CEO of the Social Health Authority, confirming the disbursement of KSh11.1 billion to settle approved claims under the Social Health Insurance Fund.
Payments to healthcare facilities began on March 13 and are expected to be completed by March 19. Despite staffing challenges, the authority has collected KSh142.8 billion in contributions, transitioned 29.8 million Kenyans to the new health insurance system, and paid out KSh109 billion in claims to healthcare providers.