New NHIF clinics list rejected
The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) on Wednesday wrote to NHIF chief executive Simon ole Kirgotty threatening to withdraw its members from the troubled medical scheme, saying, there were no consultations before the list was unveiled.
What you need to know:
- The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) on Wednesday wrote to NHIF chief executive Simon ole Kirgotty threatening to withdraw its members from the troubled medical scheme, saying, there were no consultations before the list was unveiled.
- The new list of hospitals was distributed to the 47 counties on Wednesday.
- The letter said civil servants rejected the list as some members were assigned to hospitals they did not select.
Civil servants have rejected a new list of medical service providers released by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) on Wednesday wrote to NHIF chief executive Simon ole Kirgotty threatening to withdraw its members from the troubled medical scheme, saying, there were no consultations before the list was unveiled.
The new list of hospitals was distributed to the 47 counties on Wednesday. (READ: NHIF issues new list of clinics)
“We are calling upon you to urgently convene a meeting with us within seven days from the date of this letter, failure to which we will marshal our members to withdraw from the scheme altogether,” read the letter by UKCS secretary-general Tom Odege and copied to Public Service permanent secretary Titus Ndambuki.
The letter said civil servants rejected the list as some members were assigned to hospitals they did not select.
“Your decision to continually advertise facilities will no longer be accepted. It has also not escaped our attention that most of our members were allocated facilities they never chose,” Mr Odege wrote, adding:
“The report from the just concluded sensitisation programme is proof that the scheme is not working and clear indication that your organisation is insensitive to the plight of our members.”
On Wednesday, the union also vowed not to accept the increased NHIF monthly contributions, saying, they were too high.
The newly-gazetted monthly contributions will see the lowest paid worker paying Sh150, while Kenyans earning more than Sh100,000 will pay Sh2,000.
Union deputy secretary-general Jerry ole Kina said NHIF should revise subscriptions. “They should deduct only one per cent of our salaries and that way, there will be a sense of equity in the distribution of the burden.
"Those with higher salaries should pay more,” Mr Kina said. He claimed high earners frequented hospitals more as they were susceptible to lifestyle diseases.
In an interview with NTV on Wednesday, Mr Kirgotty admitted the proposals faced resistance due to lack of public education.
