Workers move to halt NHIF fees rules
What you need to know:
- Government employees want the court to block the implementation of the new rates.
- The move could halt the government’s plan to finance the leasing of hospital equipment estimated to cost Sh38 billion.
Public servants have moved to court to block the government from implementing the new National Hospital Insurance Fund regulations from next month.
In a suit set for hearing from Tuesday, the government employees want the court to block the implementation of the new rates claiming they are too high and that the Fund irregularly published the new regulations even as consultations among concerned stakeholders were continuing.
The move could halt the government’s plan to finance the leasing of hospital equipment estimated to cost Sh38 billion as they government had hoped to raised funds from the higher rates.
The money from the increased contributions would also be used to roll out a free universal health care programme for all Kenyans from June this year.
Now the Trade Union Congress of Kenya has moved to court seeking orders to block the implementation of the new rates until their case is heard and determined.
Under the new rates gazetted through a Legal Notice published last month the lowest income earner with a Sh5,999 monthly salary will pay Sh150 while those earning more than Sh100,000 will pay Sh1,700.
Trade Union Congress-K chairman Tom Odege on Saturday said civil servants will stick to their proposal to have only 1.5 per cent deducted from their salaries to pay the Fund while the government tops up with a similar percentage as the provision of medicare to the public is a State responsibility.
“We are waiting for the High Court to make a decision when this case is heard on March 16,” said Mr Odege.
The petition by the congress filed last week says the increase violates the Constitution.
The union also wants the gazette notice dated February 6 quashed and the Fund blocked from “violating fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed in the Constitution”.
“Healthcare in public hospitals is almost inaccessible,” said the union in suit papers.
The new regulations were gazetted just days after hospital fund met members of congress and the Federation of Kenya Employers where they agreed to continue with talks in order to reach a consensus.
