NHIF to publish accredited health facilities within 10 days, says fund boss

Kenyans will know the health facilities accredited by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide enhanced medical cover by May 18.

NHIF Chairman Mohamud Ali said the management will come up with the list of accredited health facilities by Friday next week and it will be published by the said date.

Addressing the Press in his office Thursday, Mr Ali said the proposed enhanced rates which were effective on May 1 were as a result of successful consultations between stakeholders.

NHIF embarked on enhancing the contribution rates effective first of this month. The advertisements to publicise the contribution levels and benefits have been in newspapers for the last two months.

This followed successful consultations between various stakeholders, especially the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), who initially took NHIF to court to block the rolling out of the enhanced rates three years ago.

"When we had a retreat with the Cotu board in Mombasa, they agreed and the issue they raised were that there was no consultation. Having successfully been consulted, and in liaison with FKE, they withdrew the case and therefore we started sensitising the public following the matter being settled out of court," Ali said.

He said the Gazette notice has been clear on the levels of contribution and applauded Kenyans for abiding by it and making their contributions.

"By Tuesday this week, the contributions had already hit Sh1 billion and hopefully by the deadline of May 9, we will be able to reach our target of Sh2.3 billion as envisaged," he added. However, FKE has raised concern over the new rates, saying deductions should be based on net pay and not gross pay.

"It is good for a country to have a health scheme to cater to Kenyans when they fall sick. But basing deductions on gross income will be unattainable and unsustainable to employers in the long run," FKE Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo said.

Ms Mugo said the intentions of the scheme are good and are part of the reforms in the labour sector, but insisted that the employer umbrella body wants clarity from NHIF.

''Our concern is the final outcome and the benefits employees will get," she said.