The government will continue to offer the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) services through existing framework to ensure there is no gap in health financing.
- This is after the High Court suspended its initial ruling that declared the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) unconstitutional, following an appeal from the Attorney-General’s office.
- The court had earlier argued that the Social Health Insurance Act violates several provisions of constitution concerning the health care.
- The three judges suspended their ruling for 45 days to allow the Attorney General to appeal the suspension decision.
Elijah Wachira, Chief Executive Officer Social Health Authority (SHA) said the authority acknowledges the court ruling and stay orders which allows continuity of operations.
“We want to reassure you that all NHIF obligations will be honoured as per existing contracts with service providers and Fund members. All preparatory activities necessary to ensure the success of SHA will continue to be undertaken in tandem with the efforts to ensure full compliance with the court orders,” said Elijah Wachira, Chief Executive Officer Social Health Authority.
“Engagement in such preparatory activities including membership registration, validation of the benefit packages, engagement of health facilities for contracting, and market sensitization, including public education, to facilitate effective public participation, will continue as schedule,” he added.
The Social Health Insurance Act was enacted on the 19 th Day of October, 2023 and came into operation on the 22nd Day of November 2023.
Progress towards its implementation include the constitution of the Board of the Social Health Authority, development and gazettement of attendant Regulations, development of a commensurate tariffs and benefit package, empanelment and contracting of Health Care Providers/Facilities and the development of a Centralized Digital Platform where registration, contribution, the benefit package, empanelment, claims management and other services are to be anchored as required by the law.
“The current financing of NHIF is unsustainable, since it is impossible for the employed (payroll) persons to contribute enough to cater even for the health needs of the 80 per cent non-payroll Page 3 of 8 Kenyans, such a system promotes inequality and disadvantages majority of the Kenyan households,” argues the outgoing Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha Wafula.
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