Biometric authentication set to replace One-Time Passwords in extensive Security and Home Affairs Agency reforms, according to Duale.
Biometric Identification System Transforms Healthcare Access in Kenya
In 2025, Kenya's Social Health Authority (SHA) launched a nationwide biometric identification system for healthcare access, marking a significant shift from the one-time password (OTP) verification system. The new system is currently operational in Level 4 (sub-county), Level 5 (county referral), and Level 6 (national) hospitals, with plans to extend to Level 2 (dispensaries) and Level 3 (health centres) facilities soon [2][3].
The biometric system aims to eliminate fraud, fake claims, and unauthorized sharing of pre-authorization codes that were common challenges in the healthcare sector. It requires patients seeking SHA services to be biometrically registered, helping to positively identify each citizen and streamlining access [2][3][5].
The government abandoned the OTP system due to its susceptibility to fraud and inefficiency. Biometric verification removes the need for physical documents, reduces paperwork, shortens queues, and allows healthcare workers to focus more on patient care [2][3][5].
Additional supporting digital innovations include the Practice 360 mobile application, which enables health workers to view, approve, and manage claims in real time, improving transparency and service management under the SHA platform [3].
By 2025, SHA had registered approximately 25.1 million Kenyans and contracted nearly 10,000 health facilities, encompassing public, private, and faith-based institutions [3].
The move to implement biometric identification is part of efforts to eliminate fraud and streamline access to healthcare under Kenya's universal health coverage (UHC) programme. The government has allocated 13 billion Kenyan shillings for outpatient services under the SHA reforms, ensuring free primary healthcare without out-of-pocket charges at public facilities [2][4].
In addition, the government has launched the Afya Yangu mobile app and web portal, allowing Kenyans to access their health records, SHA coverage details, and search nearby facilities. Every patient encounter from diagnosis to prescription will be recorded and tracked in real time [1].
SHA will no longer accept OTP-based authorizations, and all pre-approvals must now be processed through biometric health ID or the Practice 360 mobile application. The Kenya Dentists and Practitioners Council (KDPC) has been directed to use digital tools to identify and deregister fraudulent or non-compliant facilities under the Taifa Care network [6].
The government has also activated a National Product Catalogue integrated with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), ensuring only authorized and approved pharmaceutical products are administered [7]. Kenya has also launched a Health Information Exchange System (HIES) that enables real-time, secure data sharing between hospitals, counties, and the national SHA platform [8].
This biometric identification system is actively improving healthcare access security and service delivery in Kenya, replacing a flawed OTP system with a more robust, fraud-resistant mechanism that is expanding nationwide [1][2][3][5].
Sources: 1. Kenya Social Health Authority Launches Biometric Identification for Healthcare Access 2. Kenya's SHA Unveils Biometric Identification System for Healthcare Access 3. SHA's Biometric Identification System: A Game Changer for Kenya's Healthcare 4. Kenya's SHA Reforms: Free Primary Healthcare without Out-of-Pocket Charges 5. Impact of Biometric Identification on Kenya's Healthcare Sector 6. KDPC to Use Digital Tools to Combat Fraud in Taifa Care Network 7. National Product Catalogue Activated for SHA 8. Kenya Launches Health Information Exchange System
- The biometric identification system in Kenya's healthcare sector, aimed at eliminating fraud and streamlining access, has also been instrumental in the management of medical-conditions under the health-and-wellness category, as it provides real-time, secure data sharing between hospitals, counties, and the national SHA platform through the Health Information Exchange System (HIES).
- As part of the universal health coverage (UHC) programme, the Kenyan government, driven by the need for technology-based innovations, has integrated the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) with the National Product Catalogue, ensuring that only medical conditions are treated with authorized and approved pharmaceutical products.
- In the context of political efforts to combat fraud, the Kenya Dentists and Practitioners Council (KDPC) has been directed to utilize digital tools for identification and deregistration of fraudulent or non-compliant facilities, contributing to the overall improvement in the healthcare sector within the framework of the Science, Technology, and health-and-wellness sectors.
