New NHIF rates to stay, Health CS

New NHIF rates to stay, Health CS

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has defended the new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) that came into effect on April 1, 2015.

Macharia said the new rates will help improve healthcare by offering better health services to Kenyans.

He termed recent grievances by workers unions on the new scheme as invalid saying they were involved in the negotiations that settled at the rates of Sh1,700 per month.

“The grievances by workers union are not valid because COTU, FKE, TUC-Ke and other are part of the board,” he said.

Macharia said that the upward review was essential since the rates were last reviewed in 1988 when the figure of Sh320 per month took effect.

He said that the cost of medication has gone up with consultation charges now standing at Sh3,000 hence making it necessary to carry out a fresh review.

In the new rates, individuals earning Sh5,999 and below are required to contribute Sh150 per month while those earning Sh100,000 are required to pay Sh1,700.

The recent attempts by the Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC-Ke) to call an industrial action aimed at opposing the new rates has caused discomfort in government circles.

The workers argued that they cannot afford to contribute the new amount due to poor management at NHIF.

The move prompted the government to file a petition challenging the workers’ intended strike terming it illegal.

Tags:

NHIF FKE James Macharia COTU Health CS TUC-Ke

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