SHA Dialysis Cover in Kenya: Sessions, Cost & Access
SHA covers kidney dialysis — hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, and peritoneal dialysis — under its Renal Care Package, paid jointly from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF). If you or a family member needs dialysis, here is exactly what’s covered, how much SHA pays per session, how many sessions you’re entitled to, and which facilities can actually offer it under SHA.
What SHA’s Renal Care Package actually covers
SHA’s Renal Care Package is not just the dialysis machine time. It covers the consultation and specialist review before treatment, the cost of the temporary catheter and its insertion or removal, nursing care and dialysis services themselves, routine laboratory investigations tied to your dialysis, dispensing of medication and maintenance drugs with counselling and follow-up, and continuous intermittent dialysis along with other dialysis protocols your care team may need to use.
SHA dialysis tariffs and session limits
| Dialysis type | SHA tariff | Session limit |
|---|---|---|
| Hemodialysis | KES 10,650 per session | Maximum 3 sessions per week |
| Hemodiafiltration | KES 10,650 per session | Maximum 2 sessions per week |
| Peritoneal dialysis | KES 180,000 per month | Maximum 12 sessions annually |
If you’re relying on this for a real patient, confirm directly with your treating facility or the SHA helpline (147) exactly how sessions are counted and billed under your specific care plan before assuming either figure alone.
Who pays: SHIF, or ECCIF?
SHA runs three funds, and dialysis touches two of them. Routine dialysis within the limits above is paid from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) — the main fund every paid-up contributor draws from. If your dialysis needs go beyond the SHIF limit — for example, ongoing management tied to chronic renal disease, or pre-transplant evaluation and post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy — that additional care is picked up by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), using the same tariffs and payment mechanisms as SHIF, but only for members who are paid up.
Where you can access SHA-covered dialysis
The facility must be Level 4, Level 5, or Level 6 — dialysis is not covered at Level 2 or 3 facilities.
The facility must have its own dialysis centre, not an informal or referred-out arrangement.
The facility must have access to ambulance and ICU services within a 10km radius, in case of complications during treatment.
If your usual facility doesn’t meet all three conditions, SHA will not settle the claim there even if the facility itself offers dialysis — confirm with the facility’s SHA desk that it is contracted for renal care specifically before starting treatment.
Dialysis medication is covered separately
Ongoing dialysis usually comes with maintenance medication, and SHA covers this under its separate Pharmacy Package for chronic renal disease patients on dialysis. This is available at public facility pharmacies, faith-based facility pharmacies, and community pharmacies (individually or through a pharmacy benefits manager), on a fee-for-service basis, subject to a quarterly limit of KES 5,000 per person as captured in the chronic disease registry. Specialized laboratory testing tied to your dialysis follows the same quarterly limit and registry requirement.
FAQ: SHA and Dialysis
Does SHA cover dialysis in Kenya?
Yes. SHA covers hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, and peritoneal dialysis under its Renal Care Package, funded jointly through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), at Level 4 to Level 6 facilities with a dialysis centre.
How much does SHA pay for a dialysis session?
Hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration are covered at KES 10,650 per session. Peritoneal dialysis is covered at KES 180,000 per month.
How many dialysis sessions does SHA cover per week?
Up to 3 hemodialysis sessions per week, or up to 2 hemodiafiltration sessions per week. Peritoneal dialysis is capped at a maximum of 12 sessions annually.
Which facilities offer SHA-covered dialysis?
Level 4 to Level 6 facilities that have a dialysis centre and access to ambulance and ICU services within a 10km radius.
What does the SHA renal care package actually include?
Consultation and specialist review, the temporary catheter and its insertion or removal, nursing care and dialysis services, routine laboratory investigations, dispensing of medication and maintenance drugs, counselling and follow-up, and continuous intermittent dialysis and other dialysis protocols.
Does SHA cover dialysis medication separately?
Yes. Chronic renal disease medication on dialysis is also covered under SHA’s Pharmacy Package, at facility, faith-based, or community pharmacies, subject to a quarterly limit of KES 5,000 per person as captured in the chronic disease registry.
Need Help Getting Your Dialysis Care Covered?
Send us your registration and facility details on WhatsApp and we’ll help you check your active status, confirm your facility is properly contracted for renal care, and sort out any coverage issues before your next session.
WhatsApp Us Now