Kenyan Medical scheme to continue
PS News: The Kenyan Government has declared it will do everything possible to ensure a controversial Public Service’ medical scheme continues.
Prime Minister, Raila Odinga said the current crisis at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) over allocation of the funds to accredited hospitals could be resolved.
Mr Odinga said the scheme was worth Sh4.3 billion (A$513 million) and was a useful and desirable system that would “make healthcare accessible and affordable”.
“The investigations which have been instituted are going to be done without any kind of victimisation, without any kind of blackmail,” Mr Odinga said.
“We just want to get the truth to ensure that this system is not nipped in the bud.”
He said the government would also ensure contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund were spent transparently while pushing for public-private partnerships in provision of healthcare in the country.
He said the public sector could not be relied upon to be the only sole provider of healthcare services and partnerships were the only way to meet the challenges faced in the health sector and attain the Millennium Development Goals.
“We now have a new Constitution which says that the right to Medicare is a fundamental human right and that every Kenyan when he or she is sick should have access to quality and affordable Medicare,” Mr Odinga said.
“People are raising money to send patients to India, South Africa, Europe and the USA.
“This is costing a lot of money and is impoverishing the already poor people.”