Universal Health Coverage: Every Kenyan Home to Pay Mandatory Sh6,000 Annually

Universal Health Coverage: Every Kenyan Home to Pay Mandatory Sh6,000 Annually

Every Kenyan household will soon be required to pay a compulsory Sh500 contribution to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) every month.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani indicated that each home will pay Sh6,000 annually to be enrolled in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme.

The money will cover both outpatient and inpatient services, including maternity, dialysis, cancer treatment, and surgery.

“Government focus is on the establishment of a mandatory UHC scheme to be managed by NHIF and regulated by the Ministry of Health and act as the national scheme for all persons resident in Kenya, notwithstanding one’s social status,” said CS Yatani.

Yatani said the government is initially targeting to enlist one million poor households in the UHC scheme, through the Health and Labor ministries and county governments.

“Focus is also on the provision of health insurance cover to initially one million households who are vulnerable and unable to meet even that low-cost premium," CS Yatani explained.

He added: "The identification of these one million households by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the counties across the entire country has already begun.” 

The Ministry of Health pointed out the proposed law on the management of the UHC scheme will soon be tabled in Parliament.

Universal healthcare is part of President Kenyatta Big Four agenda alongside manufacturing, affordable housing, and food security.

Comments

Mundumugo (not verified)     Fri, 02/19/2021 @ 02:05pm

In reply to by Ex diasporan (not verified)

Now we know where the $73 (KeS 8000) is going. Which leaves about $18 for distribution. The rest we can figure the reason for pushing Huduma # is that in addition to being a cash cow for the well connected, now the government has the ability to keep better tabs on you. I wonder if those cards have gps trackers in them🤔

Maxiley (not verified)     Fri, 02/19/2021 @ 03:41pm

In reply to by Ex diasporan (not verified)

@ Ex diasporan, Iam sure the gov. has thought of that,but its not telling us.
My concern is that,why dont they improve the health care system before they think of covering every one?Let's make sure there are enough hospitals in every county,and that they are well equipped with modern advanced technology.And ofcourse,have nurses,and doctors well taken care of.May be the 6000 is for that,will see.

Mato (not verified)     Fri, 02/19/2021 @ 11:33am

This is for financing the bbi nonsense. Kwani they cannot cut those mca car grants and all other funds that are being used to promote this bbi and channel those funds to healthcare?! They just want to squeeze the mwananchi kabisa.

Builder (not verified)     Fri, 02/19/2021 @ 01:15pm

Another tax on the poor. Uhuru is so anti poor people. The same poor people can't afford poorly equipped hospitals with no drugs.

Mwororo (not verified)     Fri, 02/19/2021 @ 02:56pm

First you have to define a household. Some households consist of a child and its two parents while others may be a husband with his six wives and their 55 children. A national healthcare plan is a very serious matter. It should be thoroughly researched and properly planned as a government policy and cannot be a knee jack reaction, to an IMF imposed structural policy demand in exchange for Sh262 billion loan-for an imaginary covid-19 disaster in Kenya. The loans you keep piling up; only to have most of it stolen in corruption, is our children's future liability. You must stop it.

Asitis (not verified)     Sat, 02/20/2021 @ 09:18am

Another cash cow in the making. Rebranding of covid millionaires to NHIF millionaires. Talk of kukulana Sisi kwa sisi. Nkt

Kiegethu Mose… (not verified)     Sat, 02/20/2021 @ 05:53pm

How does one pay whatever they are asking and they don’t have jobs? MCAs are getting a cool 2 million for cars as bribes to pass the BBI., striking doctors is the order of day. Please focus on building toilets and nduthi sun shades not hallucinations of things that will end up in peoples pockets.. useless and bure kabisa

Anonymous UI (not verified)     Sun, 02/21/2021 @ 12:23pm

If health is that important and a priority, first provide water to Mandera residents. Start with the health basics.
Water, food, clothing and shelter.
Not hut tax for "Health Care"!!

Ex diasporan (not verified)     Sun, 02/21/2021 @ 09:54pm

They can't start with water to Mandera residents because that's providing hydration to Al Shabaab. Start with Kamba lands

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