Manage health insurance scheme more prudently

The government has launched a Sh2 billion health insurance scheme for some 800,000 poor Kenyans. Under this Health Insurance Subsidy Programme, insurers will underwrite some of the medical costs of outpatient and inpatient services in public and private hospitals. The scheme, if well executed, will provide some relief to millions of poor Kenyans who can hardly afford to pay their medical bills, mainly due to the high cost of treatment. The scheme, backed by the Ministry of Health, the World Bank Group’s Kenya Health Sector Support Project and the German Development Corporation, will be viewed as a life saver by patients, the vast majority who are too poor to pay for the cost of treatment.

Far too many families are suffering under the burden of medical bills. The cost of treatment for cancer, diabetes, HIV, pneumonia, TB and malaria has dealt a heavy blow to millions of households. No doubt the Government has its work cut out in its bid to make healthcare affordable to all Kenyans.