Laikipia Senator faults NHIF, Kemsa for poor health services in counties
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua has castigated the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) for failing to provide effective medical services.
Speaking at Nanyuki Teaching Referral Hospital, the senator said the two state agencies have contributed to the ailing health systems in the counties.
Kinyua said Kemsa has failed in its mandate to procure and distribute drugs and medical supplies to counties noting that Laikipia County only received 30% of the procured drugs.
This, according to him, left residents seeking services in various health facilities in the area with no option but to buy.
“KEMSA failure to procure required medicines to counties is a major problem because hospitals without medicines are not hospitals but buildings,” he said.
He faulted the NHIF for delaying in disbursing funds to hospitals saying the move has paralysed operations in various health facilities.
“If one cannot be treated when you have not paid their monthly contribution to NHIF, why can't you reciprocate the same to paying hospitals immediately so that we can get good services? ”he posed.
The senator promised to ask the Senate to relook into KEMSA laws to allow counties to buy drugs from credible and reliable private firms.
He also urged the Laikipia County government to act immediately and restore good services in level 5 hospitals in the county.
He lauded them for tremendously improving Renal Units, especially in Nanyuki and said the same should be done in other departments.
