Kenyans Can Now Access Specialised Treatment in India, Turkey and Saudi Arabia Under SHA Cover

Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO Mercy Mwangangi has announced the official list of overseas hospitals where Kenyans can now access specialised medical treatment under the SHA overseas care package, with the benefit set to take effect next week.

Addressing the Senate, Mwangangi disclosed that the SHA overseas treatment benefit covers hospitals in India, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia — marking a significant expansion of the authority’s healthcare offerings for registered members.

Full List of SHA-Approved Hospitals Abroad

Kenyans who require specialised treatment abroad can now access care at the following SHA-approved hospitals:

• Manipal Hospitals – India
• Acibadem Group of Hospitals – Turkey
• Medical Point Izmir Hospital – Turkey
• Yatharth Hospital – India
• Sitecare Hospital – India
• KIMS Hospital – India
• Sarvodaya Hospital – India
• SAGE Group – Saudi Arabia

Mwangangi noted that the list is not exhaustive, as more hospitals are being onboarded as applications continue to come in. Facilities currently under review are undergoing training on how to submit and process claims through the SHA system.

How the SHA Overseas Referral Process Works

The SHA referral process for overseas treatment follows a clearly defined step-by-step procedure:

1. Local Assessment: A patient must first be assessed at a recognised healthcare facility within Kenya.
2. Doctor’s Referral: A licensed doctor at the local facility must determine that the patient requires specialised treatment abroad and issue a formal referral to one of the SHA-approved hospitals.
3. SHA Submission: The referral note is then submitted to the SHA for review.
4. Hospital Admission Request: The approved overseas hospital — already onboarded onto the SHA system — will log the admission request electronically.
5. Member Verification: SHA will verify that the patient is an active, paid-up member before granting authorisation for treatment.
6. Treatment: Once approval is confirmed, the patient proceeds with treatment at the approved foreign hospital.
7. Claim Settlement: After discharge, the overseas hospital submits a discharge summary and claim to SHA for settlement, within the KSh 500,000 cover limit.
8. Follow-Up Care: Upon returning to Kenya, the patient must report to a designated local facility for follow-up care.

What This Means for SHA Members

The SHA overseas treatment benefit represents a major milestone in Kenya’s universal healthcare agenda, giving registered members access to world-class medical facilities across three countries. The KSh 500,000 cover limit is designed to offset the cost of high-speciality procedures not readily available within Kenya.

For Kenyans dealing with complex or rare medical conditions, the SHA overseas care package could be a critical lifeline — provided they follow the prescribed referral process and seek treatment at one of the officially approved hospitals abroad.

SHA members are advised to confirm their membership status and ensure their contributions are up to date in order to qualify for the overseas treatment benefit.

This article will be updated as more hospitals are onboarded onto the SHA system.