Kenya: Deputy President William Ruto has asked county governments and MPs to use funds allocated to them to enroll needy residents in the registration of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards.
Mr. Ruto said MPs should use Constituency Development Fund (CDF) while the county governments uses funds allocated to them to help pay Sh 2,000 needed annually for the NHIF cardholders.
Mr. Ruto said the Government is committed to a universal health insurance saying MPs and county governments should enroll residents in areas under their jurisdictions get the NHIF card by paying the required Sh 2,000 annually.
“ I ask MPs and governors to use the monies allocated to them to help pay for the required Sh 2,000 annually for the needy people who are not able to pay the NHIF money needed per year,” said Mr. Ruto.
Speaking at the Kapkatet district hospital after opening a Computed Tomography (CT) scan and an Integrated Comprehensive Care Center for HIV/AIDS, Mr. Ruto called for concerted efforts in ensuring a successful universal health care for all Kenyans.
He said the national government would partner with county governments in rolling out the comprehensive service delivery system by increasing the number of people having access to the cards.
“The partnership will transform the access to affordable healthcare for all Kenyans, to enhance the NHIF’s mandate to provide universal healthcare,” said Mr. Ruto.
“We must therefore aggressively engage and ensure all Kenyans access to NHIF cards,” he added.
The Deputy President said the Government is part of this commitment of transforming NHIF into an efficient corporation in order to deliver on the mandate of ensuring every Kenyan has access to quality healthcare besides extending it to benefit the out patients.
“It’s our commitment to revamp and re-energize NHIF to deliver on its mandate of efficient delivery of quality healthcare insurance to all its members including extending to the out patients,” he added.
He said the Government would facilitate the installation of the Intensive care Unit (ICU) at the Kapkatet hospital.
The Deputy President said another Sh 20million would be used to expand the Kapkatet hospital to cater for the needs of health management unit
Mr. Ruto at the same announced that the Government has allocated Sh 420 million to Kericho County for the expansion of health infrastructure and another 380 Sigawett to expand the facility.
“ We want to transform the health center to ensure as many people as possible who are not able to go to Eldoret or Nairobi for specialized medical attention get them at the grassroots,” said Mr. Ruto.
He commended Buret East MP Leonard Sang for allocating up to Sh 33million towards the development of Kapkatet hospital.
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