Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed public hospitals to immediately end bed-sharing, calling it a violation of patient dignity and a loophole for insurance fraud.
Speaking before the National Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, July 8, Duale announced that all public healthcare facilities will now be required to admit patients strictly based on their licensed bed capacity.
He insisted that hospitals align admissions with approved infrastructure, and any claims outside those limits would be treated as fraudulent.
“If facilities wish to admit more patients, they must invest in expanding their infrastructure,” Duale stated.
The CS further instructed the Social Health Authority (SHA) to enforce the new guidelines by vetting all insurance claims based solely on a hospital’s authorized bed count.
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Claims involving bed sharing will be flagged as fraudulent and the institutions involved held to account.
“Bed sharing will now be treated as insurance fraud,” he said, emphasizing that patients’ rights and dignity must be protected in line with national healthcare reforms.
The directive is part of the Ministry of Health's ongoing implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda that seeks to improve service delivery, promote the ethical practice of healthcare financing, and enhance accountability.
The directive was issued during a joint retreat that brought together the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, and other stakeholders to assess progress and challenges in implementing UHC in the country.
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