The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) spent Sh1.76 billion in the treatment of kidney failure last year, a new report shows.
This was an increase of 42 per cent from Sh1.24 billion spent in the 2016/2017 financial year.
Further, during the same period, Sh922.8 million was paid for 73,757 kidney dialysis sessions, with Nairobi County being the highest beneficiary.
This means that the biggest chunk of healthcare benefit went to kidney treatment.
The benefit package utilisation report shows that in the last half of 2018, NHIF paid a further Sh64.7 million towards kidney transplants, up from Sh21.7 million the previous year.
Official data from the Ministry of Health shows that about four million Kenyans have some form of kidney ailment.
Every hour, close to three patients go for a session of dialysis at the Kenyatta National Hospital, translating to at least 60 kidney patients a day.
“The prevalence of chronic kidney disease is on the rise in Kenya, and NHIF will continue to support efforts by the Ministry of Health to lessen the burden of the patients by offering them affordable health insurance cover through its various packages,” said NHIF acting Chief Executive Nicodemus Odongo.
According to the State insurer, renal dialysis is covered per family on inpatient and outpatient care.
Under the package, NHIF pays up to a maximum of Sh500,000 for a kidney transplant, for both local and overseas transplant, for national scheme members.
The requirements for overseas treatment include referral by a certified doctor, evidence of an identified matching kidney donorand quotation of the cost of care.
