Get approval for medical treatment abroad
Ministry of Health, with KMPDC and the Social Health Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Your specialist fills a referral form for medical management abroad with you, KMPDC confirms the doctor, and the Ministry of Health's Director of Medical Services gives approval. For SHA to pay, use SHA's overseas referral form; SHA covers up to KSh 500,000 a year for procedures not available in Kenya.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Through your referring specialist. The form goes to KMPDC (Woodlands Road, off Lenana Road, Nairobi) and then to the Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health. For SHA cover, SHA's overseas referral form is approved by SHA.
What you need
- Referral Form for Medical Management Abroad (KMPDC form), filled by you and your referring specialist
- Details of your next of kin and of the person travelling with you
- Donor details, where there is a donor (for example a transplant)
- For SHA to pay: SHA Referral for Overseas Treatment form
Steps
- Fill Part A of the referral form: your details, next of kin, the person travelling with you and any donor, then sign the declaration.
- Your referring specialist fills Part B: diagnosis, reason for referral, expected treatment, the receiving hospital abroad and the follow-up plan when you come back.
- KMPDC confirms in Part C that your doctor is registered, licensed and in good standing.
- The Director of Medical Services approves your travel abroad for treatment in Part D.
- If SHA is paying, the same details go on SHA's overseas referral form, which is approved by the SHA Director.
Watch out
- SHA's overseas cover is capped at KSh 500,000 per person per year. Plan for any costs above that.
- SHA pays only at overseas hospitals it has empanelled and contracted, so check the receiving hospital first.
- Your specialist should email KMPDC (patient.referrals@kmpdc.go.ke) as soon as they refer you.
Who can apply
- SHA cover is for medical and surgical procedures that are not available in Kenya, at overseas hospitals SHA has contracted.
Official sources (4)
- Referral Form for Medical Management Abroad (KMPDC) sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- SHA Referral for Overseas Treatment Form sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Benefit Tariffs: Overseas Treatment Package sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- SHA Forms sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026