Employers group to fight new NHIF rates
What you need to know:
- The Federation of Kenya Employers says it will explore all avenues, if dialogue fails, including seeking court injunctions to stop the National Hospital Insurance Fund from collecting the new rates
- Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said all employees will start contributing to the fund next month
- Under the proposed rates, the lowest paid worker earning Sh6,000 will contribute Sh150 while higher paid cadres earning Sh100,000 and above will part with Sh2,000 a month. Self-employed people will contribute Sh300 to Sh500
The employers’ lobby will pursue all possible options to stop the national insurer from collecting medical contributions under the controversial new rates, even as the insurer insists it has the legal mandate to do so.
The Federation of Kenya Employers says it will explore all avenues, if dialogue fails, including seeking court injunctions to stop the National Hospital Insurance Fund from collecting the new rates.
Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said all employees will start contributing to the fund next month.
“There has to be cleaning up before the new rates take effect. It’s wrong for Prof Nyong’o to bully the country into accepting an ill that everybody can see,” FKE chief executive Jacqueline Mugo said.
The new rates could take effect after the next government comes to power and after a caretaker board the President set up releases its report on the NHIF status, she said.
The minister and NHIF should realise the fund is in dire need of reforms, more so in the wake of allegations of misuse of workers’ money through doubtful medical facilities, Mrs Mugo said.
Under the proposed rates, the lowest paid worker earning Sh6,000 will contribute Sh150 while higher paid cadres earning Sh100,000 and above will part with Sh2,000 a month.
Self-employed people will contribute Sh300 to Sh500.
