MPs have initiated a five-pronged probe into alleged financial mess at the National Health Insurance Fund.
The Health committee, disturbed by events at NHIF, said a thorough investigation is the only way to save the health insurer from its death bed.
The probe, according to the committee chairman Robert Pukose, will delve into the usage of millions contributed by members, failure to remit capitations to health facilities, refusal by hospitals to accept NHIF cards and the recent promotions at the agency.
The committee also wants to unearth a possible collusion between health officials and private officials to fleece taxpayers’ money.
The committee claimed that well-connected private health facilities are prioritised when it comes to payment of claims at the expense of public hospitals.
“The committee will sit down and discuss the terms of reference, we intend to open an inquiry into all these allegations. When we call for an inquiry of this kind, we want to get to the bottom of the issues affecting the public insurer and see how we can have them solved. We will ensure that NHIF delivers the Universal Health Coverage,” Pukose said.
The committee resorted to conduct inquiry after the NHIF team was unable to explain how much they receive from the statutory deductions as well as fines and advance payments.
The Endebes MP said the inquiry will extend to include to procurement processes at the fund and to the reasons behind the cancellation of the recruitment of the NHIF CEO and other senior directors.
“The committee will not sit down and watch as individuals within NHIF fleece taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Pukose was speaking during a meeting with the Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai, NHIF acting CEO Samson Kabura, the Fund’s board chairman Michael Kamau and other top NHIF officials.
Furious MPs accused the national insurer of failing Kenyans who at times turned away after hospitals reject cards.
MP said it is unacceptable that patients covered by the scheme cannot access services in hospitals because the fund has not remitted monies to health facilities.
The lawmaker also demanded explanation why private hospitals are favoured when it comes to settling claims as opposed to public health facilities which are frequented by majority of Kenyans.
“Patients are crying everyday, they are contributing every month but they cannot access the much needed health services. Where do all these money go?” she said.
“How do you pay private hospitals at the expense of public facilities? The outcry is just too much.”
Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi said the probe should extend to recent promotions at NHIF where junior officers who are well connected were elevated above their senior who have served at the fund for ages.
Kibagendi cited the promotion of the CEO from claims department to acting CEO, a promotion he noted was not normal.
“How is it that in a short time he rose to be the acting CEO while a number of senior people who are served for ages at NHIF were bypassed? From what I have gathered, some people are politically correct and that explains their rise, ” he said.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge said he could not understand why the public insurer cannot pay for services offered to its members yet it continues to collect money from Kenyans every month.
