The government has released Sh3.7 billion in pending bills owed to various health facilities across the country.
The amount which includes Sh1.4 billion for the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) claims was released Monday.
Part of the money will also go to the Linda Mama programme which gets Sh1 billion while Primary healthcare providers receive Sh1.3 billion.
The release of the funds comes only a week after President William Ruto promised to clear all debts owed to hospitals and service providers by the NHIF.
This, he stated, is an addition of the Sh5 billion the government recently paid out to make the roll-out of the Universal Health Coverage smooth.
“We are going to make sure that all our public facilities are funded so that they can rollout Universal Health Coverage,” he said during a church service at Soweto Catholic Church in Embakasi East, Nairobi.
The government has been in the eye of the storm over its reluctance to disburse the money forcing several public, private, and mission hospitals and other health facilities to scale down operations.
NHIF owes all public hospitals in Nairobi a cumulative figure of Sh2.1 billion with Kenyatta National Hospital alone owed Sh1.6 billion.
The other public hospitals in the county combined are owed Sh480 million.
The money is part of the ongoing transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
This move is considered a crucial step to maintain these facilities’ trust and cooperation under SHIF.
The remaining payments will be made progressively, based on the availability of funds.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers were hesitant to shift to SHA due to the financial strain caused by unpaid claims.
As part of the transition, the government has reassured stakeholders that it will address this outstanding financial obligation.
The President said the new health system will ensure the availability of drugs in health facilities by involving locals in the management of the facilities.
He reiterated that Kenyans, especially those at the bottom of the economic pyramid, will now have medical insurance under the Social Health Insurance Fund.
“For those who cannot afford to pay, the government will pay for them. Those who can afford it will pay according to their financial abilities,” Ruto said.
