KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta today said the Government is committed to ensure that no Kenyan succumbs to disease due to inability to afford treatment.
The President said this as he directed the Ministry of Health to implement innovative health financing strategies that will ensure inability to pay does not undermine Kenyans’ access to essential healthcare services.
“My Government is dedicated to eliminating this kind of vulnerability, to enable our people to lead productive lives,” the President said.
The President spoke today at Wilson Airport in Nairobi when he launched the air and road rescue services, an enhanced medical insurance benefit for civil servants and members of the disciplined forces.
“This is an important additional benefit to the current comprehensive health insurance cover that is now offered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to our civil servants and members of the disciplined services,” the President said.
The rescue service will be provided in partnership between the National Hospital Insurance Fund, Kenya Red Cross and AMREF Flying Doctors.
The President disclosed that under the enhanced cover, civil servants and the disciplined forces will receive emergency treatment when they need it, wherever they need it.
“This is a crucial service, especially for our security officers, who put themselves on the front line against our enemies, to ensure that Kenyans are safe wherever they are,” the President said.
Towards provision of universal health coverage, the President said the Government has taken deliberate steps to progressively ensure access to quality and affordable health care, with an initial focus on the poor and vulnerable members of the Kenyan population.
He said funds have already been allocated to subsidize the cost of healthcare for elderly people and persons with severe disabilities currently enrolled in the Cash Transfer Program.
The President pointed out that the funds will be utilized to provide an annual health insurance cover for the target population within the framework of the already established NHIF standard contribution risk pool at a total health insurance premium of about KSh. 360 million to cover 189,000 beneficiaries.
“I am aware that this undertaking demands that the Government progressively increases investment in health, in line with the Abuja Declaration which required that governments allocate at least 15% of their budgets to the health sector,” the President said.
He urged county governments to work with the national Government to minimize fragmentation of public financing pool available from time to time
President Kenyatta said his administration has allocated substantial resources this financial year to supplement county governments’ efforts to ensure that all Kenyans have access to high quality affordable health services.
“This additional funding has targeted implementation of free maternal services in all public health facilities, procurement of specialized medical equipment, provision of free health care services in public primary care facilities and upgrading health facilities in informal settlements in urban areas,” President Kenyatta said.
He called on the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to play its role in this agenda by building public trust and confidence in line with the current laws.
“This calls for efficiency in its operations, reduced bureaucracy and enhanced performance to meet the expectations of Kenyans,” he said.
The President welcomed development partners’ support to Government-led initiatives targeting the strengthening of health institutions that will enable Kenyans to have access to health services.
Besides basic services, President Kenyatta said the Government’s efforts will enable patients to obtain affordable specialized treatment for kidney, heart diseases and other diseases.
Speaking at the function, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said the contract for provision of the medical insurance cover between her Ministry and NHIF is renewable on an annual basis and continuously improved.
She said currently the beneficiaries have been increased to cover the principal member, spouse and five dependent children under 21 years and up to a maximum of 25 years of age if still in school.
“In addition, the increased benefits include treatment outside the country for medical conditions whose treatment is not available in Kenya,” the CS said.
Other speakers included Cabinet Secretaries James Macharia and Joseph Nkaissery, Nairobi Governor Evan Kidero and his Kisumu counterpart Jack Ranguma, Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary-General Abbas Gullet and AMREF Flying Doctors Medical Director Bettina Vadera.
