After announcing the restructuring of NHIF the national government will now not match contributions to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) for low-income earners.
This was revealed by President William Ruto on April 24, eight months after he announced the plan that would see contributions pegged on incomes in September last year.
While on the campaign trail in Kirinyaga County, the President pledged to lower minimum NHIF contributions from Sh500 to Sh300 and offer waivers to poor households unable to pay the monthly rates to ensure the country achieves its universal health care goals.
When launching the Cyberknife Centre on Monday at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), President Ruto said the government was working to reform NHIF to turn it into a social health insurance scheme.
“We have interrogated the NHIF legislation … there is no need of matching NHIF contributions. We shall be presenting new regulations to parliament by May 15 after a final meeting, which we will have on May 11. Failure is not an option this time round,” the President said.
“We have looked at the regulations that were challenged in court by our partners and now we want to fast-track delivery of universal health coverage.” C in C added.
Dr Ruto lauded KUTRRH for its commitment to the fight against cancer as well as for realising accessible and affordable quality health care.
“I have received three requests for linear accelerator machines from Nakuru, Mombasa and Garissa which will be delivered in the next 120 days. That, coupled with the Cyberknife Centre, should help us reduce the time Kenyans have to wait for treatment from days to hours,” the President said.
President Ruto promised to support KUTRRH to set up a paediatric facility as well as a women’s breast cancer facility.
The President also announced that he had instructed Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to procure 30 acres in Mombasa to enable the World Health Organisation (WHO) to build their hub.
This follows protests by Kenyatta University against putting up a WHO hub on its land, with Vice-chancellor Paul Wainaina insisting that the university had already earmarked the land for development projects.
By Jane Kibathi.
