The Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI) have set conditions that healthcare facilities must meet before they can be contracted to provide cancer treatment services to SHA beneficiaries.

In a joint statement on Thursday, October 15, the two institutions directed facilities seeking to offer oncology services under SHA to obtain valid NCI certification and update their records to facilitate verification and completion of the contracting process.

"The Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI) notify all healthcare facilities intending to contract with SHA to offer cancer services to SHA beneficiaries to obtain valid NCI certification and update their records to facilitate verification and completion of contracting," the statement read.

Facilities have been directed to verify and update their NCI certification status, ensuring their certification is current and reflects the approved scope of cancer services they are authorised to provide.

They must also confirm the specific oncology services they intend to offer under SHA, ensuring the services fall within their NCI-certified scope. 

These include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, surgical oncology and other applicable cancer treatment interventions.

Additionally, healthcare facilities are required to demonstrate that they have the necessary infrastructure, operational equipment and appropriately qualified and licensed personnel to support the services declared in their applications.

The institutions further require facilities to ensure they have the applicable facility, professional and service-specific licences and authorisations before completing the contracting process.

Facilities without valid NCI certification have been directed to seek assistance from the institute, while those seeking to provide services beyond their existing certification must obtain the necessary verification and approvals.

"Facilities intending to offer cancer services to SHA beneficiaries that do not hold valid NCI certification must immediately contact NCI for assistance with assessment and certification.

"Facilities whose proposed services differ from their certified scope must seek verification and the necessary approvals," the statement added.

 Under the outlined requirements, NCI will receive complete applications, address certification gaps and conduct assessments and certification for eligible cancer centres. 

The institute will also verify the approved scope of services offered by the facilities.

SHA, on its part, requires healthcare facilities to update their contracting applications, select oncology services that correspond with their NCI-certified scope and upload the necessary supporting documents to meet the contracting requirements.

The updates must be completed through the SHA e-contracting platform, where facilities are expected to ensure their applications accurately reflect their approved cancer treatment services.

SHA has clarified that certification, service scope, operational capacity, qualified personnel and regulatory approvals will determine whether a healthcare facility can be contracted to provide cancer services to its beneficiaries.

"SHA will only contract facilities to offer cancer services to its beneficiaries upon verification of valid NCI certification, the approved service scope, capacity, personnel and applicable regulatory approvals," the statement concluded.

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Meanwhile, SHA has extended the deadline for healthcare providers to complete their contracting requirements to December 31, 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, the Authority said the extension pushes the transition period for existing healthcare provider contracts beyond the previous deadline of October 14.

"The Social Health Authority (SHA) informs all healthcare providers that the transition period for existing healthcare provider contracts, previously scheduled to lapse on 14th October 2026, has been further extended to 31st December 2026," the statement read.

SHA said the extension would allow healthcare facilities to address outstanding requirements and resolve challenges encountered during the contracting process without disrupting service delivery to beneficiaries.

"The extension provides facilities with additional time to complete outstanding contracting requirements, address challenges encountered during the process and ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to SHA beneficiaries," the statement added.

According to SHA, under the revised arrangement, existing contracts covering the 2024-2026 period will remain in force throughout the extension. 

The new contracting cycle is scheduled to commence on January 1, 2027.