Private hospitals are the biggest NHIF beneficiaries, says CS Nakhumicha

The CS has also defended her move to suspend some NHIF officials and close down some health facilities.

"I hear that there are concerns regarding my decision and the impact on the public. Before I took the decision, I had an early morning meeting with the chair of NHIF and the CEO of KMPDC and we discussed the ways out of this matter, we did not just suspend the facilities chair," she explained.

"I gave them 24 hours to evacuate patients because I knew there will be an impact. So, within that period, they ought to have transferred patients to other hospitals. And one of that facilities dared to write back to the attendant."

The Health CS had also announced that NHIF staff will have to undergo a lifestyle audit to explain their wealth about their earnings, following the recent NHIF scandal.

"We are going to commence an elaborate lifestyle audit of all NHIF staff, to ensure every staff can explain their wealth portfolio in consistency with their earnings," the CS ordered.

This was after an expose aired at the weekend alleged that hospitals have been stealing from Kenyans by inflating bills that are footed by NHIF.

"I wish to express my deepest disappointment and contestation at the staff in my Ministry who may be part of this callous syndicate."

Moreover, the CS ordered the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to immediately commence investigations on certain facilities.