The Social Health Authority (SHA) has invited licensed overseas healthcare providers to submit expressions of interest to offer specialised medical services to Kenyan patients who require treatment outside the country.
In a public notice issued by SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, the authority said the contracting exercise targets foreign healthcare providers with the capacity to deliver highly specialised medical interventions that are currently unavailable or limited in Kenya.
The overseas medical services will be accessed by beneficiaries covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF).
SHA explained that the move is anchored in the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, which mandates the authority to contract and empanel healthcare providers for service delivery under Kenya’s national health insurance framework. The process is also guided by regulations governing the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
According to the notice, SHA has gazetted an overseas benefits package and tariffs outlining medical procedures eligible for treatment abroad. The package was developed by the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel and includes interventions that cannot be accessed locally. The full list is available on the authority’s official website.
For beneficiaries under POMSF, SHA noted that overseas care will extend to additional specialised treatments sought through referral, with costs negotiated directly with contracted providers.
The authority said the approved costs will cover medical evaluations, laboratory and imaging services, treatment procedures, accommodation before and after treatment, transfers between healthcare providers where necessary, and other incidental medical expenses related to patient care.
Interested overseas healthcare providers must meet strict eligibility and qualification requirements. These include proof of registration and accreditation in their country of origin, recognition by relevant Kenyan authorities, and valid licenses for specialist doctors expected to deliver the services. Providers must also demonstrate linkage with an empanelled healthcare facility in Kenya to support post-treatment follow-up care.
Dr. Mwangangi added that all mandatory application documents must be submitted on the provider’s official letterhead and duly certified by a notary public. Applications that are incomplete or fail to meet the stated requirements will be disqualified.
Submissions must be made within 14 days from the commencement date through SHA’s official procurement platforms, including the authority’s website, the Public Procurement Information Portal, and designated Kenyan embassies and high commissions.
Successful applicants will be notified in writing and required to sign contract documents within seven days of notification.
SHA further noted that the overseas contracting notice will remain continuously open and subject to periodic updates. The authority also reserves the right to verify submitted information, negotiate tariffs, and publish the list of contracted overseas healthcare providers in the Kenya Gazette and on its official digital platforms.
