𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐳𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬.

In a startling turn of events, private hospital associations in both rural and urban areas have sounded the alarm on an impending crisis in the healthcare sector. With plans to suspend services for patients under the SHA scheme starting Monday, these associations are sending a clear message to the government: urgent action is needed to address critical challenges that are threatening the very fabric of our healthcare system.

Reports have revealed some shocking statistics that highlight the dire situation facing hospitals across the country. A staggering 89% of hospitals are grappling with a non-functional SHAR claims portal, rendering reimbursement processing impossible. Furthermore, 54% of hospitals have not received SHAR payments since December 2024, leaving them in a precarious financial position. To add insult to injury, outstanding claims from the now-defunct NHIF, dating back to 2017, remain unpaid, further exacerbating the financial strain on hospitals.The Rural Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) has raised concerns about the high staff turnover in hospitals, attributing it to salary payment delays.

This has resulted in massive job losses among doctors, nurses, and support staff, creating a ripple effect that is destabilizing the healthcare sector. Additionally, many hospitals are defaulting on bank loans, pushing them further into financial turmoil.Meanwhile, the caucus of health sector unions and associations has vehemently opposed the government’s plans to merge healthcare regulatory bodies.

They argue that independent regulation is essential for strengthening medical training and maintaining professional standards, and any move to merge regulatory bodies would be detrimental to the healthcare sector as a whole.In response to these challenges, healthcare unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum, demanding that the ministry and parliament abandon plans for declassification, defunding, and merging.

Failure to act on these demands will result in a strike notice and subsequent industrial action, further jeopardizing the already fragile healthcare system.As the Monday deadline looms large, uncertainty hangs over the future of SHA patients and the healthcare sector at large.It is imperative that the government takes immediate and decisive action to address these pressing issues and ensure the sustainability of our healthcare system. The time for action is now, before it’s too late.