The State Department for Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has assured Kenyans of a seamless transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in a move towards a more inclusive health system that addresses basic healthcare needs and offers a wide range of medical services across various fields.
“In the government of his excellence, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, and the pillars of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, health stands out,” were the words of Public Health PS Mary Muthoni during the inauguration of Mama Rachel Maternity Hospital in Kiplombe ward, Turbo sub-county, Uasin Gishu county.
Muthoni assured Kenyans that the transition from NHIF to SHIF is in good hands and that no one will ever be sent home by any health facility, either public or private, due to a lack or not having enough money.
She revealed that the NHIF rates have been reduced from Sh500 to Sh300 per month, and if one cannot afford the new charges, the government will cover the patients who will be visiting the hospitals under SHIF.
The Social Health Insurance Fund is divided into three categories, which include the Primary Care Fund, which deals with patients in dispensaries that are ranked as level 2 and level 3 facilities; the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF); and finally, the Chronic Illness Fund, which will cover patients ailing from long-term diseases like cancer and dialysis.
The PS She lauded the community health promoters for their good work in the last few months that they have been working since they were trained, equipped, and rolled out by the president, noting that 141,000 expectant mothers have been identified in the community, and if diagnosed with complications or illness, they have been advised to visit the hospitals.
The community promoters will act as the link between households and health facilities. They will also be checking blood pressure and blood sugar, reminding expectant mothers to come to the clinic, and ensuring children are immunised so as to avoid diseases like polio in the country.
They have also ensured that 3.69 million children under five years old accessed childcare services and uploaded the data to the health department portal.
She praised the use of technology and digitization in terms of improving health services through referrals from one facility to another in the event of a lack of equipment and supplies.
“According to the Digital Health Act 2023, if there is anything missing in terms of equipment, human resources, and infrastructure in one facility, we can link a patient from one hospital to another and also transfer medication and diagnosis from one health facility to another through the aid of technology, especially during disasters like floods,” said Muthoni.
PS Muthoni reminded Kenyans to observe tree planting every third Thursday of every month, noting that climate change and health are intertwined at the hip since clean air generated by trees helps to avoid respiratory diseases, which can be prevented.
By Noela Boinnett and Geraldine Mueni
