Government to formulate a new health funding model

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha says the government will formulate and implement a new tertiary health funding model.

Speaking in Kitale during the dissemination of the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) 2023-2027 forum, the CS said that the Ministry will strategise on how to pull resources for the Social Health Insurance Fund(SHIF).

The CS said that the new funding model will now monitor individuals' capabilities to contribute to the fund.

"We will observe the economic characteristics of every self-employed Kenyan and mobile money transaction history to determine how you are going to pay the 2.75 percent of our income to the SHIF fund," said Nakhumicha.

The Social Health Insurance Fund which forms part of the recently enacted Social Health Insurance Act introduces a new funding model that is reliant on funding approved by the National Assembly in addition to individual contributions by Kenyans.

According to the Act, the Social Health Insurance Fund shall be partly funded from monies appropriated by the National Assembly for indigent and vulnerable persons.

Salaried workers are expected to make contributions rounding off to Sh77 billion through the 2.75 percent deductions on gross salaries while the government is set to provide an addition of Sh45 billion per year according to an impact system from the Ministry of Health.

Additionally, Nakhumicha stated that the government roll will out a primary healthcare network, and lay 100,000 km of fiber optic cable in the region.

During her visit, she also launched the "Jaza Miti" campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2030.