Quick answer
The SHA cancer package covers up to KSh 800,000 a year per member: KSh 400,000 under SHIF plus KSh 400,000 from the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. Chemotherapy is paid at KSh 5,500 a session, radiotherapy at KSh 3,600 a session for up to 30 sessions and PET scans at KSh 53,500.
Updated 19 October 2026
The Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer package now covers up to KSh 800,000 a year of cancer diagnosis and treatment for each registered, paid-up member. It is made up of KSh 400,000 from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and a further KSh 400,000 from the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) for patients who use up the first amount. This guide explains what the package pays for, the exact tariffs, where you can use it and how to avoid claims being turned down.
The figures come from the Social Health Insurance Tariffs for Healthcare Services (Amendment) 2026, Legal Notice No. 78, as reported by the Daily Nation, and from Ministry of Health statements and its regulatory impact assessment of the 2026 tariffs.
In this guide
How the SHA Cancer Package Grew to KSh 800,000
When SHA replaced NHIF in October 2024, the cancer limit was KSh 550,000 a year: KSh 400,000 under SHIF and KSh 150,000 under ECCIF. On 27 November 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced a presidential directive to raise it to KSh 800,000 from 1 December 2025. The change was formalised when the CS signed Legal Notice No. 78 on 30 April 2026. It was published in the Kenya Gazette on 8 May 2026 and took effect that day, and SHA confirmed it in a public notice on 11 May. The ECCIF top-up rose from KSh 150,000 to KSh 400,000, while the SHIF portion stayed at KSh 400,000.
What the SHA Cancer Package Covers
For the first time, the 2026 tariffs list oncology services one by one. Before this, vague benefit descriptions were a major reason cancer claims were rejected, because hospitals did not know what they could bill. The main tariffs are:
| Service | What SHA pays the facility |
|---|---|
| Holistic oncology consultation (oncologist, nutritionist, pharmacist, social worker, palliative, spiritual and mental health care) | KSh 2,500 per visit, up to 4 sessions |
| Chemotherapy administration | KSh 5,500 per session, as per the treatment plan |
| Radiotherapy | KSh 3,600 per session, up to 30 sessions |
| Brachytherapy (internal radiation, used for cervical and prostate cancer) | KSh 40,000 for 3 sessions |
| Stereotactic (precision) radiotherapy | Up to KSh 70,000 for 5 sessions |
| Chemo port insertion | KSh 15,000 |
| CT scan | KSh 6,900 (one per policy year) |
| MRI scan | KSh 11,000 (one per policy year) |
| Bone scan | KSh 15,000 (one per policy year) |
| PET scan | KSh 53,500 (one per policy year) |
| PSMA PET scan (prostate cancer staging) | KSh 64,200 |
| Tumour markers (CA125, CA19-9, PSA and others) | KSh 8,000 |
| PCR gene marker profile | KSh 8,000 per profile |
| Full blood count | KSh 500 |
| Urea, electrolytes and creatinine; liver function tests | KSh 1,000 each, up to 4 rounds |
| Supportive care medication | Up to KSh 10,000 |
The schedule also covers histology, cytology, flow cytometry for leukaemia patients and bone marrow tests as set out by the National Cancer Control Programme, and follow-up care during remission in line with the Kenya Cancer National Treatment Protocols. PET and PSMA PET scans were not in the earlier tariff list, so patients who needed them used to pay out of pocket.
The Ministry of Health also said in November 2025 that Herceptin, a breast cancer therapy, had dropped from KSh 120,000 to KSh 40,000 a session after a deal with Roche and was fully covered by SHA at contracted facilities.
Where You Can Use the Cancer Package
According to the Ministry’s tariff assessment, the SHIF haematology and oncology package is available at Level 3 to Level 6 facilities that hold National Cancer Institute certification and have the capacity to offer the service. The ECCIF top-up for chronic conditions applies only to members who are paid up. In practice, that means the big referral and teaching hospitals, county referral hospitals with cancer centres, and private and faith-based hospitals contracted by SHA for oncology. Ask the hospital’s SHA desk to confirm it is contracted for the specific service you need, such as radiotherapy, before you start.
Who Qualifies
- You must be registered with SHA, together with your declared dependants. If you have not registered, follow our guide on how to register for SHA.
- Your contributions must be up to date. The ECCIF top-up in particular is only for paid-up members, so a lapse can stop treatment once the first KSh 400,000 is used.
- The limit is per person per year. The Ministry’s assessment lists the SHIF oncology limit as KSh 400,000 per person per annum.
How to Use the SHA Cancer Package, Step by Step
- Check your status. Confirm you are registered and active by logging in to the SHA portal (see how to log in to the SHA portal) or by dialling *147#.
- Get a referral and diagnosis. Your doctor refers you to an oncology facility, where biopsies, scans and lab tests confirm the cancer and its stage.
- Agree a treatment plan. The oncologist sets out the chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment you need.
- Let the hospital seek pre-authorisation. The facility submits the plan to SHA for approval before treatment and bills SHA directly using the tariffs above.
- Ask what you will pay. Before each stage, ask the SHA desk to show what SHA covers and any balance. Keep copies of every approval and invoice.
- Get help if a claim stalls. Call SHA’s free line on 147 (our guide to the SHA 147 line has details) or visit an SHA office; in Nairobi, see the list of SHA branches and contacts.
What the Package Will Not Cover
The package pays facilities at fixed tariffs. If a private hospital charges more than the tariff, you may be asked to pay the difference, so confirm this before treatment. CT, MRI, bone and PET scans are limited to one of each per policy year, and radiotherapy is capped at 30 sessions. Costs outside the medical bill, such as travel to a cancer centre, accommodation near the hospital and lost income, are not covered. A private critical illness insurance cover, which pays you a lump sum on diagnosis, can help with these.
Why the Change Matters
The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations welcomed the increase, saying the higher ECCIF allocation reflects the reality of patients who need long and complex treatment. Patients quoted by the Daily Nation described paying tens of thousands of shillings for PET scans that had no SHA tariff before May 2026. With the scans now listed, patients can ask for them at contracted hospitals under SHA.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SHA pay for cancer treatment?
Up to KSh 800,000 a year: KSh 400,000 under SHIF and another KSh 400,000 under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund once the first amount is used up.
Does SHA pay for chemotherapy?
Yes. SHA pays KSh 5,500 per chemotherapy session as set in your treatment plan, at contracted oncology facilities.
How many radiotherapy sessions does SHA cover?
Up to 30 sessions a year at KSh 3,600 per session. Brachytherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy have their own tariffs.
Does SHA cover PET scans?
Yes, since the 2026 tariff amendment. A PET scan is paid at KSh 53,500 and a PSMA PET scan at KSh 64,200, limited to one per policy year.
When did the SHA cancer package increase to KSh 800,000?
The increase was announced for 1 December 2025 and formalised by Legal Notice No. 78 of 2026, which took effect on 8 May 2026.
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