Patients seeking treatment in public health facilities in Machakos will now be required to pay consultation fees in a new directive that the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Dr. Daniel Yumbya has said is meant to supplement the county government’s efforts in provision of Universal Health Cover (UHC).
Dr. Yumbya said the directive takes effect immediately for level five and four hospitals that will be charging Sh150 and Sh100 respectively.
“The charges for level three is Sh50 and will be effected on May 1, we are however leaving out level two facilities for now,” he said.
While defending the move, the CECM said the county government has been paying huge amounts of money for drugs and other essential medical supplies and the payments will go a long way in supplementing the expenditure.
“The county government pays between Sh30-40 million to KEMSA for drug supplies every month. We are also clearing a debt of around Sh200 million inherited from previous administration,” said Dr. Yumbya.
He disclosed that the crisis of drug supplies was occasioned after the national government stopped funding the county government after it was picked as one of the pilot devolved units for the UHC.
“Machakos was picked for the pilot programme and the national government in 2018 and 2019 disbursed Sh1 billion each year, however the funding stopped at the advent of corona outbreak in 2020,” added the CECM.
Speaking to the press outside Machakos Level Five Hospital the CECM reiterated the county government’s commitment in provision of affordable health care and asked residents not to politicize the payments.
“Counties like Nakuru have been charging these payments for all their facilities. It should not be politicized,” said Dr. Yumbya.
He however said patients who do not reside in Machakos County will pay more for the consultation and the county government will issue special cards to Machakos residents for the payments.
“The payments will be done cashless. However, the charges mentioned only apply for Machakos residents,” said the CECM.
Dr. Yumbya also urged residents to take up the NHIF cover in large numbers to cover for their medical expenses.
By Roselyne Kavoo
