Health Cabinet secretary Susan Nakhumicha has challenged the National Health Insurance Fund to align its operations with the needs of its customers.
The CS said the government remains committed to delivering on its universal healthcare promise with the Fund expected to play a critical role in its implementation.
"There is a need to align your strategic plan with the government’s UHC agenda to make it more patient-centred. The government remains committed to ensuring that individuals and communities access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship,” she said.
Nakhumicha was speaking on Monday during a meeting with the management and board of the NHIF.
The CS underscored the need for NHIF to fully digitise its operations to enhance efficiency and reduce wastage.
"I'm encouraged by what you have been able to achieve in-house. Let us make good use of the resources available to improve services,” she said.
NHIF CEO Peter Kamunyu who spoke during the meeting said the Fund has embarked on a transformational agenda to enhance efficiency and make it more customer responsive.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund rebranded in January this year to the National Health Insurance Fund and said it would broaden the scope of service delivery to include organisations that have renal dialysis centres, cancer care centres and diabetic care centres.
"It is not only hospitals that are responsible for providing healthcare. With that, I believe we will now be able to have a further reach and be able to extend towards 100 per cent of Kenyans having healthcare benefits,” NHIF board chairperson Lewis Nguyai said after the name change on January 20.