Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has directed private hospitals to only accept cash payments from patients covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), effective Monday, September 22. This move is a response to delayed and unsettled payments from SHA, making it unsustainable for hospitals to offer services on credit.

• Private hospitals will now require cash payments from SHA beneficiaries.
• The directive was issued by the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA).
• This decision aims to ensure hospitals remain open, essential supplies are available, and staff can continue serving patients amidst payment delays from SHA, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024.