Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata on Tuesday launched the county social health insurance scheme dubbed Kang’ata Care that aims to provide health insurance cover to vulnerable households.
Kang’ata said the initiative, a joint venture between the County and the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), would help lift the financial burden that many vulnerable families face in search of treatment.
The governor averred his commitment towards providing better health care to the people of Murang’a County saying this new initiative will add 20,000 more households to NHIF.
He said that the cover will provide comprehensive inpatient care in government and faith- based facilities and outpatient cover in contracted health facilities.
It will also provide optical and dental care in government facilities.
In addition, the cover includes last expense benefits for the principal member and their immediate family.
The Kang’ata Care cover however excludes persons with any other medical insurance.
In Murang’a county NHIF currently covers 93,161 households paying for themselves and 20,000 under the National Government Universal Health Care (UHC) scheme.
“Those qualified for registration are those suffering from chronic illnesses, persons above 60 years of age who have dependents, orphans, disabled persons and single parent households” Kangata said.
He also explained that all those who applied would be vetted by committees coordinated by assistant chiefs that will consist of individuals nominated by the county government, designated healthcare workers and religious representatives.
The governor stated that the Kang’ata Care program intends to register a further 20,000 beneficiaries in the next financial year 2023- 2024
County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Health Fredrick Mbugua, said the registration exercise is expected to be concluded by November 24, 2022.
Mbugua underscored that the exercise will be fair and only the most deserving cases will be registered
By Purity Mugo
