MPs reject Sh4.2b NHIF system amid corruption probe

From left: NHIF Board Chairman Michael Kamau, CEO Samson Kuhora and PS Harry Kimutai before the National Assembly Health Committee. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Legislators are now calling for the suspension of the procurement of a Sh4.2 billion biometric system by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The National Assembly Health Committee, during a sitting with NHIF's top officials, heard that the agency is about to replace the current system, which cost Sh1.6 billion.

The House team, which is probing claims of irregular payments to hospitals, wondered if the project was necessary.

"Why exactly do you need a new system? Is the old one inefficient? We shall be inviting the ICT ministry and service providers so they can shed more light on the practicability of getting a new system," said committee chairman, Robert Pukose (Endebess).

"Our need to further investigate this matter is because we feel it wrong and improper for NHIF to put a claim of Sh4.2 billion at a time when our economy is struggling."

NHIF acting CEO Samson Kuhora defended the move, saying there were glaring gaps in the current system, and that the new one would cure issues such as identity theft and false claims.

The committee, however, said the current one had undergone upgrades in the last five years.

The CEO is expected to give details on the matter in subsequent sessions with the MPs within the 90-day period in which the team is probing NHIF dealings.

At the same, Kuhora said Sh360,698 had been recovered from Jekim hospital, one of the suspended health facilities following an audit shortly after a media expose on fraudulent claims in Nairobi and Meru counties.

The report showed that eight medical facilities had siphoned millions of shillings from the Fund. The same is said to be happening across other counties.

And according to documents tabled by NHIF, Jekim Hospital was made using the wrong codes, and had missing records while students were being transported from schools to get treatment.

The audit also extended to Beirut Pharmacy and Medical Centre and Amal Hospital where it was established that there was a mismatch of hospital and NHIF records, there were inconsistencies in patient notifications and procedures done on patients as well as the fact that "the facility performs major surgical claims from a big number of employees from the same company yet the indication was that the affected members were at work."

The document also highlighted cases of impropriety at the St Peters Orthopedic and Surgical specialty in Kangemi, given that it was paid Sh379 million despite it being a level four hospital and "was not supposed to be offering specialised orthopedic services."