Let’s diversify contactless payments
What you need to know:
- The role of health service providers is critical as they remain at the forefront in the war against the pandemic.
- The NHIF has accepted to cover Covid-19 patients in public hospitals.
In the recent past, we have read and seen traumatising and horrifying narrations from a few lucky coronavirus survivors on their frustrations in getting admission and treatment in our hospitals.
The role of health service providers is critical as they remain at the forefront in the war against the pandemic. They are highly prone and vulnerable to infections. But there seems to be a lot that is unknown and unheard going on within our healthcare systems as we battle the spread of the virus.
The disease is entrenched at the community levels and is asymptomatic as cases of patients with no pre-existing medical condition dying from it surge.
Hitherto presenting with coughing, fever and difficulty in breathing, it has since mutated and became mainly asymptomatic, thereby posing a challenge to diagnosing it. Contact tracing is becoming nightmarish and key in the increasing cases.
The few testing centres and laboratories seem to be overwhelmed and sample testing takes up to five days to return results – or sometimes none at all.
The NHIF has accepted to cover Covid-19 patients in public hospitals. That is timely and laudable. Most insurance companies do not offer the cover, making it very difficult for patients to foot hospital bills. Most of the counties are yet to meet the basic infrastructural requirements in handling Covid-19 patients and emergencies. This even as nurses, who are under counties, threaten to go on strike this month.
Let us cushion all the essential service providers horizontally, increase testing centres and equipment, enhance sensitisation on the need for voluntary testing and adherence to safety measures.
Mr Wendo is founder/CEO, Integrated Development Network (K). [email protected].
