Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has reaffirmed her commitment to clean the health sector and get rid of corruption at the National Health Insurance Fund.
Speaking on TV47 on Monday, Nakhumicha said once the proposed UHC bills are passed, the changes will be implemented immediately to ensure Kenyans have access to services wherever they need them.
She said the creation of the proposed social health insurance will see the existing NHIF repealed and Community Health promoters will be tasked with registering of beneficiaries afresh.
Nakhumicha said that for a long time, cartels have held the fund hostage, making service delivery to Kenyans a big challenge.
“Na ndio maana nimesema hii ugonjwa ambayo imekita mizizi kila mahali kwenye Nhif…Nakwambia kuna ma cartels wabaya kwenye hii nchi, wanaweza nunua NHIF muzima waende nayo nyumbani,”
“Na ndio maana tumeleta sheria, ikipita inarepeal NHIF tunaanza upya ku-register watu kutumia system,” she added.
This is translated loosely to say ‘There are very bad cartels in this country, they are capable of buying the entire NHIF and taking it home that is why we have come up with a law to repeal Nhif so we are starting afresh’.
Nakhumicha noted that under the new reforms, the ministry has come up with an essential package that will see all those seeking treatment charged the same across the board irrespective of whether they visit public, faith-based or private health facilities.
Similarly, the package will cater for all the diseases a person is suffering from without exclusions, which will include chronic diseases such as cancer.
“We have come up with an essential package for it to be known that if you seek malaria treatment in Kitale whether private, public or faith-based the charges will be the same so long as you are under the social health insurance programme.”
Less than two weeks ago, the Cabinet approved splitting of NHIF funding model into three.
The government is seeking to repeal the NHIF in a move to accelerate Kenya’s attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
