NHIF Woes: Hospitals In Rural Areas Reject Card, Ask Patients To Pay For Treatment

• The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) accused the government of delaying in releasing funds owed to hospitals
• RUPHA chairperson Brian Lishenga said National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) beneficiaries will now pay 60% of the services in cash to get treatment
• However, the Ministry of Health said the government had released KSh 5 billion to the health facilities

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has enforced this new policy requiring National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cardholders to pay cash to access treatment.

RUPHA chairperson Brian Lishenga said the latest move is because of the government's delay in releasing funds owed to hospitals.

How much NHIF patients will pay

Lishenga said hospitals in rural areas will require NHIF beneficiaries to pay up to 60% for services on a cash basis.

Citizen TV reported that beginning on Thursday, December 28, NHIF cardholders will pay KSh 1,000 to access outpatient care services.

“We today announce that for NHIF beneficiaries, up to 60% of services will be on a cash basis, and all hospitals will charge a fee of Sh1,000 for outpatient care,” Lishenga said.

Patients seeking admissions, surgeries, maternity care, and cancer dialysis will also be required to pay cash, according to the new policy by rural hospitals.

Lishenag pointed out that despite the government releasing KSh 5 billion, the money is not enough compared to what the hospitals are owed.

“Nurses need to be paid; our suppliers have not been paid for many months now; we need to keep the lights on, so we need to pay electricity bills; because of this situation, we have no other option left to us,” he noted.

Court suspends Social Health Insurance Act

Elsewhere, Justice Chacha Mwita ordered the state to cease the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act.

In his petition to the court, businessman Joseph Aura claimed that the Act would violate Kenyans' privacy rights, exposing them to more online harm.

He termed the Act unconstitutional and a gross violation of human rights, as it would deny unregistered citizens access to government services.