Governors offer support in fight against impunity in health sector

Governors have pledged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to fight what they termed as impunity in the health sector.

This comes even as the 48 hours given to the National Health Insurance Fund to table its preliminary report on investigations into alleged fraud by some private hospitals come to a lapse.

The Council of Governors CEO Mary Mwiti now says as governors they will join the ministry in the fight to ensure funds released to the sector go to the intended purpose.

“We have to embrace and support the Ministry of Health in fighting this impunity so that we ensure that disbursement of resources from NHIF and the purpose for which this fund was meant is actualized,” Mwiti said.

“This will not be a fight by the Ministry of Health alone, it is a fight by all people and I think the time has come for us to stand and call impunity as impunity and shape the agenda moving forward.”

On Monday, Health CS Susan Wafula suspended with immediate effect eight NHIF branch managers in the areas affected by fraud allegations.

Wafula on Monday further ordered the NHIF board to commence investigations into the alleged fraud and present a preliminary report to her desk within the next 48 hours.

The investigations, according to the CS, will include inviting the whistle-blower to shed light on the details of the syndicate.

The CS has further directed the division of standards and regulations to take action on the same and give a report.

"I have further made a special request to EACC to lias with NHIF and carry out comprehensive investigations with the aim of finding out how these cartels syphon resources from Kenyans and from NHIF specifically and I hope this can be availed within the next seven days," the CS said.