KENYA – Machakos County Government has formed a partnership with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide free healthcare to needy patients.
County Health Executive, Dr Ancent Kituku, told the media at Machakos Level 5 Hospital that they had identified 43,000 poor households whose premiums would be paid for by the government because they could not afford NHIF premiums.
“Using the Demographics data, we were able to identify 43,000 poor households that cannot afford to pay NHIF in Machakos County. We have registered them under NHIF and their premiums will be paid by the County Government,” he said.
Dr. Kituku stated that, while the poor are catered for, the rest of the people should register with NHIF and pay Sh6000 per year to be fully enrolled.
“Ordinary people should be able to afford 6000 (US$60) in a year, which is Sh500 (US$5) a month and Sh17 (US$ 0.17) a day for them to access NHIF services,” Kituku said, claiming that the NHIF charges demanded translate to Sh17 daily and Sh500 monthly.
“They should not hide behind poverty while being able to afford luxury items such as alcohol and cigarettes,” he added.
He reassured Machakos residents that if they enroll in NHIF at their facilities, the county government will make sure they have enough drugs, quality services, and healthcare workers to care for them.
Kituku emphasized that Machakos County allocated one-third of its budget to the department of health, but that the department budget was extremely high due to the wage bill.
Mr Timothy Musyoka, Branch Manager of the Machakos County NHIF, lauded the initiative and stated that they will ensure timely reimbursement upon submission of claims.
He stated that they have signed contracts with all government health facilities in Machakos County so that healthcare providers can provide a wide range of benefits that will be reimbursed by the NHIF upon submission of claims.
“We have signed contracts with all Machakos’ government facilities, from level 2 to level 5 so that the healthcare providers can provide a wide range of benefits which NHIF will reimburse upon submission of claims,” added Musyoka.
He stated that they have agreed with Machakos County to increase capacity building so that every healthcare worker understands how to claim from NHIF and can also assist members in registering and receiving benefits.
Musyoka stated that they are honored to be working with the County Government, and that the contract will last from 2022 to 2024.
Last year, MPs approved changes to the NHIF Act that made it mandatory for all Kenyans over the age of 18 to contribute to the fund, with employers matching contributions made by those who pay less than Sh500 (US$5) monthly.
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