Private hospitals take NHIF rate
Private hospitals have accepted an insurance rate offered for civil servants.
The hospitals had previously demanded Sh6,000 per person from the National Hospital Insurance Fund but settled on Sh2,850 on Wednesday.
The health-care plan provides cover to more than 500,000 civil servants and teachers.
Earlier this year when private hospitals refused the Sh2,850 cover, Meridian and Clinix health facilities took advantage and were paid Sh116 million and Sh202 million as capitation fees.
The scandal led to the suspension of NHIF chief Richard Kerich and the entire board, which was replaced by a caretaker team led by Mr Adan A. Adan.
Kenya Association of Private Hospitals secretary general Peter Ombogo said 240 hospitals were now ready to give their services.
Dr Ombogo said private hospitals provide about 36 per cent of health-care in the country and the NHIF enhanced scheme is good.
He said in the first round NHIF narrowed down the choices for its clients something which the current caretaker team had taken into consideration.
“Kaph lauds the current position to allow members to choose health-care facilities more convenient to them.
“This has given members (clients) an opportunity to choose from a wide range of facilities that may be closer to them or their dependants,” Dr Ombogo said.
Kaph national coordinator John Nyaumah said they did not see any advertisement in the first round.
“We are now happy that the hospital fund is undertaking the issue transparently and we encourage more Kenyans to join NHIF as we advance towards universal health care,” he said.
Dr Nyaumah said what was left now is to have a National Hospital Insurance Fund Act reviewed so that members serving in the board are appointed transparently.
