MP Challenges Kenyans To Enroll For NHIF Programme

Subukia Member of Parliament Nelson Gaichuhie said that by doing so many of the fundraising ceremonies being conducted would be avoided. 

He said that it was worrying to see the number of patients whose family members have to struggle to foot staggering hospital bills that could otherwise have been settled by NHIF. 

Gaichuhie said that NHIF contributions are minimal compared to the cost of organizing for fundraising ceremonies and later settling hospital bills. 

He said that settling  hospital bills especially for patients suffering from non communicable  diseases like cancer, cardiac complications and diabetes had been made more affordable as bills originating from such diseases are usually high. 

Gaichuhie was speaking in the sidelines of the donation of beyond zero mobile clinic by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in Nakuru on Thursday.

Accredited health facilities

Many Kenyans do not know the health-care benefits from the national insurer even as employers intensify calls for the new deductions to be based on basic pay. 

The Federation of Kenya Employers said it would meet the National Hospital Insurance Fund board today over the deductions.

NHIF Chairman Mohamud Ali on Thursday said Kenyans will know the health facilities accredited by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide enhanced medical cover by May 18.

Ali said management will come up with the list of accredited health facilities by Friday next week and it will be published by the said date.

 Ali said the proposed enhanced rates which were effective on May 1 were as a result of successful consultations between stakeholders.

NHIF embarked on enhancing the contribution rates effective first of May.

This followed successful consultations between various stakeholders, especially the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), who initially took NHIF to court to block the rolling out of the enhanced rates three years ago.

By Maureen Murimi