The designation of Bomet Health Centre as Kenya’s first Social Health Authority (SHA) Green Label Facility marks a major shift in how primary healthcare is delivered and financed under the government’s Universal Health Coverage reforms.
Launched in January 2026, the Green Label Facility model guarantees that registered SHA beneficiaries can walk into a health facility, receive essential primary healthcare services, and walk out without paying, with all eligible services fully funded by the government through the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHCF).
How Green Label System works
Under the Green Label model, funding flows directly from the government to health facilities, rather than through patient reimbursements. This removes the need for patients to pay out of pocket and later seek refunds.
At Bomet Health Centre, patients who are registered with SHA are verified digitally—often using biometric systems or SHA-issued tablets—before receiving care. Once verified, services are recorded in real time and paid for by the Primary Healthcare Fund.
A key requirement for Green Label facilities is the mandatory display of a Service Charter, which clearly lists all services that must be offered free of charge. These include consultations, laboratory tests, medicines, disease screening, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, chronic disease management, minor surgical procedures and referrals.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who officially unveiled the service charter on January 21, 2026, said the system is designed to eliminate confusion and exploitation.
“Patients should walk in, receive treatment, and walk out without paying. This is fully funded under the Primary Healthcare Fund,” Duale said.
He added that any facility found charging for services listed on the charter would face action.
Why Green Label
For decades, many Kenyans have delayed or avoided seeking medical care due to high out-of-pocket costs, even for basic services. Families often resorted to harambees or selling property to cover routine medical bills.
The Green Label initiative directly tackles this problem by removing cost at the point of care, especially for low-income households.
It also addresses long-standing concerns about overcharging and fraud in health financing. By standardising services and prices through a publicly displayed charter, SHA aims to curb inflated bills and hidden charges.
“A consultation shouldn’t cost Sh3,000 in one clinic and Sh10,000 in another,” Duale said.
“Standardised rates ensure dignity, fairness and affordable care for all.”
The model further encourages patients to use Level 2 and Level 3 facilities, such as dispensaries and health centres, for common illnesses—reducing congestion at referral hospitals that should focus on specialised care.
SHA FRAMEWORK
Bomet Health Centre’s Green Label status makes it a national pilot site for the new SHA framework. The government plans to replicate the model across counties once systems are fully tested.
“Diseases have no dates; they come anytime. This initiative ensures everyone can access affordable and quality healthcare,” Duale said.
He revealed that SHA enrolment is rising rapidly, noting that over 2,000 households are registering daily, signalling growing public trust in the new system.
As the first Green Label Facility in Kenya, Bomet Health Centre represents a shift toward transparent, cashless and equitable primary healthcare, offering a blueprint for how universal health coverage is intended to work in practice.
