National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) acting CEO Samson Kuhora has said increasing NHIF rates will be beneficial to patients.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kuhora said the proposed new rates will help cover the treatment plans of cancer patients.
"One of the things that are most expensive at the moment is the management of cancer and when we estimate how much we are likely to spend if 85 per cent of the population is covered, we are looking at a bill of Sh71 billion," he said on Citizen TV.
Kuhora said that NHIF only covers sessions of treatment and not the entire treatment plan at the moment.
He said increasing NHIF rates will help finance the whole treatment plan.
"If you finance six sessions of treatment and then if the patient is not able to finance the remaining treatment, the patient drops out and you will have spent about Sh600,000 but not get the treatment outcome you are looking for," he added.
However, he said the fund will not take up all the costs but they are in negotiation with the government to put in a fund that will supplement critical illness and emergency funds.
He said the additional amount will make sure the critical care needed for patients in ICU is also provided.
Kuhora said that the government compared NHIF's data with that of other health agencies in some African countries.
President William Ruto proposed a 2.75 per cent deduction of gross salary for NHIF contribution.
