Daniel Otieno, Kakamega
The government has announced an elaborate plan to clear the outstanding National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) debt, which currently stands at Sh33 billion.
This financial burden has put immense pressure on healthcare facilities for the past decade, hindering them from the delivery of essential services to the public.
In a press statement released by State House, the government outlined a structured approach to resolve the crisis that has affected public, private, and faith-based hospitals since the dissolution of NHIF on November 22, 2024.
To alleviate the financial strain, the government will pay in full all hospitals with claims of Sh10 million or less, which represent 91per cent of the facilities previously contracted by NHIF.
The remaining 9 per cent, consisting of hospitals with claims exceeding Sh10 million, will undergo a verification process over the next 90 days, after which a payment plan will be finalized. The government has stated that a verification committee will be gazetted within a week to oversee this process.
Meanwhile, under the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), current medical claims will continue to be settled within a month.
To date, SHA has disbursed Sh18.2 billion for all undisputed claims submitted between October 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to Universal Health Coverage, assuring Kenyans that any challenges encountered in implementing Taifa Care, the new national health scheme, are being addressed.
This initiative aims to restore confidence in the healthcare sector, ensuring that hospitals can continue to provide uninterrupted services to all Kenyans.
The statement follows reactions from Kenyans regarding the Auditor General’s report on the Sh104 billion SHA system deal.
