Let NHIF members pick preferred hospitals, employers say

Employers have urged the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to allow the fund’s 5.8 million members to be treated at health facilities of their choice.

The Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE) on Friday asked for fresh talks with the fund's managers in order to quell the fears over the fate of member contributors.

FKE national chairman Linus Gitahi said continuous consultation with employers will ensure it is not bogged down by challenges. He also urged that current changes in management should not prolong the process.

“There are reports that workers are not accessing treatment at their preferred facilities because of prolonged contractual issues between the contractors and NHIF,” said Mr Gitahi at a press briefing.

Together with Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo, FKE board members demanded that the NHIF give members time to submit a list of preferred hospitals.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS RESIST

The sentiments came even as it appeared that private NHIF-accredited facilities, such as Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan and Gertrude’s Children's Hospital, could not accept the services.

“FKE wishes to remind NHIF that this is a compulsory statutory contribution and every contributor must therefore have access to treatment,” the members said in a statement.

The NHIF had set the deadline for choosing hospitals on January 8, but a majority of the facilities mentioned turned down members, forcing them to go back to the drawing board.

“Pick a facility that you can go to from wherever you are. A family can select different hospitals because we know of families where the father is in a different county than the wife or children can be in a boarding school elsewhere. But, you will only access services where you are registered,” said NHIF senior public relations officer Gerald Kaiga.

Mr John Nyaumah, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals, said the NHIF's list of 1,500 private and public hospitals was not current and no negotiations were concluded with the private hospitals.

He said the list was published in 2012 to show facilities accredited for the controversial inpatient and outpatient scheme for civil servants and the disciplined forces.