Health CS acts after Kenyans on Twitter pour wrath on NHIF

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on November 3 released new guidelines that significantly reduced contributors’ benefits for outpatient treatment.

The organisation said it the move was in an attempt to reduce unnecessary visits by beneficiaries and for maintenance.

This announcement came a day after the fund announced that members would no longer be restricted to getting treatment from hospitals they had initially selected, but in any NHIF-contracted facility offering outpatient services

NHIF also noted that principal members should carry the birth certificates of children under 18 while seeking treatment in any facility. This is to avoid people taking children who are not theirs to benefit illegally.

Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu however suspended NHIF decision to limit outpatient visits to 4 per year. He said that patients should continue with services as before, on the morning of November 4.

This turn of events has left many Kenyans taking to social media to express their feelings towards it.

Most of them condemn NHIF’s move s selfish and others thanking CS Mailu for stepping in.

Here are some of the views;

New NHIF policies is a middle finger to the poor as it now restricts usage to only 4 times a year, the rich can as many times. Witchcraft pic.twitter.com/Agch1ysWsD— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) November 4, 2017

Welcome to being literally robbed, you pay 20,400 per annum and are only allowed to spend 6000, it's cheaper to not have NHIF, but illegal ???? pic.twitter.com/zX2H0xFr04

— Zein | ? •?•? (@8BitBatman) November 4, 2017

Surely for all the tax we pay NHIF should be able to offer a bit more, no? 1,500/-? Politics aside we’re all a disease away from poverty.— Larry Asego (@LarryAsego) November 3, 2017

Here's NHIF maths> you pay 500/- p/m for 12mths i.e 6000.4 visits of 1500 p.a i.e 6000.What insurance theory is this??— Quinter Nyar- Asembo (@Nyarr_Asembo) November 4, 2017

NHIF limits outpatient visits 2 4 yearly..can we put quarterly cap 2 contributions. Grand scam of the year cooking pic.twitter.com/7GSmhxkXAz

— Sheila Masinde (@SheiMasinde) November 3, 2017

And what is NHIF funding here, a headache or what? Eish! pic.twitter.com/WfJL5GII6G— Wambui (@Waambui) November 3, 2017

NHIF drops limits on hospitals but at the same time introduced limits on the number of hospital visits. Corruption!!!

— Robert ALAI (@RobertAlai) November 2, 2017

NHIF ar limiting the cost per visit to 1500. Is there any need to contribute to the scheme? No need. Eat your money, stay healthy!#Resist

— Hon Lee Makwiny (@leemakwiny) November 4, 2017

Whoever came up with the decision to reduce number of visits for outpatient services should be is a criminal and deserves not to live, NHIF— Elvisshunkur (@Elvisshunkur) November 4, 2017

What's smart about the NHIF "smart card" if you have to carry copies of physical documents every time. The cards should have all that info.— Nester (@Nesters_) November 4, 2017

Bae’s alcohol detox visits are min 20 a year...poor Kenyans on NHIF who we steal are limited to only four outpatient per year? I’d #Resist ????— A Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru_) November 4, 2017

Cheers CS Mailu. How can NHIF make sickness an equality issue. ?That was total madness. Health issues are about social justice.— Robert Kinge Anyoni (@SIPKENYA) November 4, 2017

hahaha... an health insurance firm limiting one of the number of times he should visit a hospital ????— Mgenge (@neuro_words) November 4, 2017

Not only suspending, the heads should roll...poor management and leadership— kimani kiarie (@peter_kiarie) November 4, 2017

The earlier decision was retrogressive— Roman Kenya 1 (@RomanMuriira1) November 4, 2017