Govt Goes After Hospitals Ordering Repeat Lab Tests for SHA Patients

The Ministry of Health has introduced the digitised information system for the Social Health Authority (SHA) which is aimed at eliminating repeated tests and scans ordered by hospitals.

Speaking during the launch of the system, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale noted that hospitals often demand patients to undertake multiple tests which are charged on the SHA account.

Occasionally, this happens when patients go for treatment in other facilities or are referred.

As a result, the CS stated that the system would digitize all health records of patients, hence there will be no need for health facilities to demand multiple tests.

"Health Information Exchange will enable real time data exchange between hospitals, counties and the national eco system. Connected facilities no longer need to submit physical documents for SHA claims this will eliminate duplicate claims, repeated tests and billing fraud.

"Patients charged multiple times for services like X-rays, MRI should report to SHA through the call center at 147," read the statement in part.

Hospitals that are found to be demanding retests to make money from patients will be deregistered.

Meanwhile, he launched that the Biometric Health ID had been launched to enable access to SHA services using the finger print.

This is aimed at reducing paper work and long waiting times in the hospitals.

"The Ministry will launch a pharmaceutical Track-and-Trace system next month and enhance digital oversight through KMPDC to weed out fraudulent facilities under Taifa Care," read statement in part.

"These digital tools mark a new era of efficient, transparent and patient-focused healthcare delivery."