The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has disbursed Sh22 billion from the Sh31.5 billion collected in claims to hospitals across the country.
In a dispatch after the National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC) meeting, the funds will be used to settle the money owed to various healthcare providers.
According to NDIC, faith-based organisations received Sh3.5 billion while public hospitals were allocated Sh7.2 billion.
Private healthcare providers received Sh11.4 billion.
Another Sh8.6 billion was used to clear debts owed by the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“Taifa Care has paid Sh8,631,145,153.00 of the old NHIF debts,” the dispatch reads.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi chaired the Committee on Wednesday at the Kenya School of Government.
NDIC is a high-level Committee of Principal Secretaries, presided over by Mudavadi with Head of Public Service Felix Koskei as the Vice-Chairman and Convenor.
NDIC stated that the payments have played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of healthcare services and alleviating financial pressures on facilities.
The committee added that SHIF has so far registered over 20.6 million Kenyans, with 16.6 million actively enrolled.
Another four million people have undergone means testing to assess their eligibility for financial assistance.
NDIC emphasized the need for efficiency in handling claims to ensure the funds are directed where they are most needed.
“The government is committed to ensuring that every Kenyan receives quality healthcare without financial strain,” NDIC noted.
Last month, President Ruto directed that hospitals with
claims of Sh10 million and below be paid in full.
“Pay all hospitals with total claims of Sh10 million and below in full, representing 91% of all facilities contracted by NHIF,” he stated.
Concerns over pending bills have been a major issue in the healthcare sector. The government has pledged to settle outstanding claims to prevent service disruptions in hospitals across the country.
Some private hospitals had threatened to stop offering services to patients entirely depending on SHIF for treatment, but that decision was rescinded after talks with the government.
