Maternal deaths escalating following hospital's reduction in maternity support due to SHA decisions

Maternal deaths escalating following hospital's reduction in maternity support due to SHA decisions

The Social Health Authority (SHA) provider portal changes and the reclassification by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) have negatively impacted maternity services in lower-level facilities in Kenya. Specifically, the removal of maternity and inpatient bed capacities from all Level 2 hospitals, including those with functional maternity units, and Level 3 facilities without theatre services, has led to the loss of approximately 3,478 maternity beds nationally. This represents about 18.6% of Kenya’s total maternity bed capacity [1][2].

These changes were implemented through the SHA portal, managed by the Digital Health Agency (DHA), and the reclassification by KMPDC during June and July 2025 effectively downgraded many Level 3B inpatient facilities, resulting in a reported removal of up to 10,000 inpatient beds across lower-level hospitals [2].

Private hospitals, represented by the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), have expressed concern that the removal of maternity services could increase maternal and neonatal deaths due to reduced access to essential care in these facilities. They have urged the Ministry of Health’s Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth, to intervene and reinstate maternity services to prevent deterioration in maternal health outcomes and increased out-of-pocket expenses for poor households [1][2].

The situation is particularly concerning in northern Kenya counties such as Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, and Marsabit, where these facilities are often the only maternity care option. The lack of maternity services at these facilities could lead to increased maternal deaths, as at least 21 women die every day while giving birth due to complications in Kenya [3].

RUPHA has requested that facilities offering inpatient services without theatres are not unfairly downgraded and that their capacity is accurately reflected in licensing and contracting. They have also asked for a technical advisory to be issued to KMPDC, DHA, and SHA, clarifying the scope of services permitted at primary care facilities, particularly maternity, immunisation, and inpatient services in Level 2 and 3 institutions.

The letter from RUPHA urges Dr Amoth to advise KMPDC to activate the Kenyan Essential Package for Health (KEPH) Level 3C. They have also recommended that Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale be advised on the impact of removing maternity and inpatient bed capacity from Level 2 and 3 facilities.

The 2025/26 national budget enacted cuts to the recurrent budgets of KMPDC, the Clinical Officers Council, and the Nursing Council of Kenya, which may further exacerbate the situation.

References: [1] Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA). (2025). Letter to Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General, Ministry of Health, Kenya. [2] Digital Health Agency (DHA). (2025). Data from the SHA provider portal. [3] Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2023. (2023). Kenya Health Facility Census.

1. Despite the Social Health Authority (SHA) provider portal changes and reclassification by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the importance of maintaining healthcare services, especially maternity services, cannot be overlooked.
2. The removal of maternity and inpatient bed capacities in Level 2 and 3 facilities has led to a significant loss of approximately 3,478 maternity beds nationally, impacting healthcare services.
3. This loss represents about 18.6% of Kenya’s total maternity bed capacity, a concerning statistic that needs urgent attention.
4. Private hospitals, represented by the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), have voiced their concerns about the potential increase in maternal and neonatal deaths due to reduced access to essential care.
5. RUPHA has requested that facilities offering inpatient services without theatres are not unfairly downgraded and that their capacity is accurately reflected in licensing and contracting.
6. They have also asked for a technical advisory to be issued to KMPDC, DHA, and SHA, clarifying the scope of services permitted at primary care facilities.
7. The letter from RUPHA urges the Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth, to intervene and reinstate maternity services to prevent deterioration in maternal health outcomes.
8. In areas like Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, and Marsabit, where these facilities are often the only maternity care option, the lack of maternity services could lead to increased maternal deaths.
9. At least 21 women die every day while giving birth due to complications in Kenya, a statistic that highlights the urgency of the situation.
10. RUPHA has requested that KMPDC activates the Kenyan Essential Package for Health (KEPH) Level 3C to address the gap in healthcare services.
11. They have also recommended that Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale be advised on the impact of removing maternity and inpatient bed capacity from Level 2 and 3 facilities.
12. The 2025/26 national budget enacted cuts to the recurrent budgets of KMPDC, the Clinical Officers Council, and the Nursing Council of Kenya, which may further exacerbate the situation.
13. Health, especially maternal health, is a crucial aspect of the workplace-wellness agenda, Amidst chronic diseases and medical-conditions, maintaining maternity services is important for the health-and-wellness of employees.14.The rise in chronic diseases such as cancer and respiratory conditions, digestive-health issues, eye-health problems, and hearing disorders highlights the need for comprehensive health coverage.
14. Skin-care and therapies-and-treatments for various medical-conditions should also be prioritized, with mental-health and autoimmune-disorders being major areas of focus for mens-health and womens-health.
15. Parenting, a responsibility shared across genders, requires understanding and managing multiple health concerns, from cardiovascular-health to neurological-disorders.
16. Financial struggles can compound health issues, making finance, investing, and wealth-management crucial components of health-and-wellness.
17. Affordable banking-and-insurance solutions can help mitigate out-of-pocket expenses for poor households, ensuring access to essential health services.
18. Education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and big-wins in personal-finance, career-development, and sports like football, soccer, WNBA, baseball, hockey, golf, basketball, NCAABasketball, MLB, NHL, American football, NBA, and tennis can lead to improved well-being and mental-health.
19. Responsible-gambling practices should be promoted, recognizing the potential negative impact of casino-and-gambling activities, casino-games, lotteries, on personal finance and mental-health.
20. Las Vegas, a symbol of casino-culture, continues to be a trending hub for various casino-personalities, attracting millions with its vibrant gambling atmosphere.
21. Understanding gambling-trends can help navigate the industry for business opportunities while promoting responsible gambling practices.
22. The healthcare industry, like many others, is subject to various economic factors, making it crucial to invest in education-and-self-development for personal-growth and career-development.
23. Despite the challenges faced in the Kenyan healthcare system, there are still big-wins to be had through collaboration, policy changes, and investment in infrastructure and resources.
24. The healthcare industry is a major sector in the economy, requiring support from policymakers and advocates for improved healthcare outcomes and accessibility.
25. As the industry evolves, so too must our approach to healthcare, with a focus on prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatments for chronic diseases like cancer.
26. The future of health-and-wellness lies in embracing innovation, whether in digitizing health records or developing new therapies-and-treatments for various medical-conditions.
27. It is essential to prioritize healthcare, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and promoting health-and-wellness initiatives, both within the workplace and at a national level.
28. By investing in healthcare, education-and-self-development, and responsible-gambling practices, we can work towards a healthier, more prosperous, and better-informed society.

Read also: