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The National Health Insurance Fund has urged civil servants to register biometrically to improve service access and reduce fraud.
Speaking during an information forum for civil servants in Laikipia county at a Nanyuki hotel, NHIF officer Joseph Arasa said registration would streamline delivery when accessing services.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure they do not deplete their cover by choosing the facility they want to get treatment from, for instance, designated public health facilities,” Arasa said on Monday.
He encouraged county governments to enlist their employees in NHIF to reduce the heath cost burden.
Arasa further asked vulnerable people to verify if they are already enrolled in the government-subsidised health programme.
They are people from vulnerable communities, persons with severe disabilities and the elderly.
The officer encouraged civil servants to monitor their lifestyle, including exercise, healthy diet, smoking and drinking to increase health and work productivity.
“Going for medical check-ups, avoiding excess consumption of alcohol, tobacco substances and maintaining recommended body weight will help you have a good quality of life,” he said.
The NHIF officer noted the health insurance scheme caters for renal dialysis, rehabilitation for drug and substance abuse, local ambulance services, foreign specialised treatment that cannot be accessed locally, among other types of medical care.
The Laikipia County Statistical Abstract 2021, which was recently released, said 274,803 residents working with the government and private sector are registered with NHIF.
Universal Health Care (UHC) is one of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda pillars to ensure every household can access free healthcare by the end of 2022.
(Edited by V. Graham)