Restructure NHIF, medics urge State

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has urged the government to streamline the governance and management structure of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) for effective service delivery to Kenyans.

The union while noting that reforms at the national health insurance are at the heart of the country’s financing for healthcare, observed that critical positions have remained vacant for nearly a year.

Speaking during the union’s seventh Special Delegates Conference (SDC) in Nakuru at the weekend, Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah said stability at NHIF was key to making the insurance effective.

“While the government is keen to ensure that persons with the right leadership mindset are at the helm of NHIF, we contend that you do not have to change to make progress,” said Atellah.

Atellah, at the same time, claimed there was unwillingness by the two levels of government to implement the 2017 - 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) saying it affects the morale of health practitioners.

“They have abandoned implementation of the CBA ignoring basic salary adjustments, creation of call room, posting of medical interns, employment and provision of working tools that would make industrial harmony possible,” he said.

According to the SG, with healthcare devolved, there is need to revise the budgetary allocation upwards to address majority of issues that cause a lot of industrial disharmony among the health workforce across the country.

“KMPDU remains a key partner in healthcare and assures the government, all stakeholders, and Kenyans of its availability to render advice for good healthcare,” he said.

He said the SDC which attracted over 500 doctors resolved to endorse a panel of advisors composed of experienced administrators, researchers, clinicians and advocates to periodically produce insights and policy briefs for government consideration.

He observed that the proposed austerity measures being undertaken by the government are not only hurting the poor but also undermining social dialogue and collective bargaining rights of trade unions as representatives of workers across all sectors.

Atellah slammed the government for not appointing a single medical practitioner to the government despite 250 applying for the position of Principal Secretary.

 “For the first time since independence, the country’s top policy and governance leadership has completely left out a key sector and profession. We appeal to the president to reconsider the position,” he said Atellah.

 Awareness forums

Meanwhile, civil servants have been urged to update their beneficiaries’ records with the relevant human resources offices and live with their families in harmony to ease the processes of claiming benefits whenever necessary.

At the same time, public workers have been urged to attend NHIF awareness forums to be better informed on the benefits they are entitled to.

According to William Ochiel from the State Department of Public Service, the forums provide a platform for public servants to get more information on NHIF Schemes provided by the government.

“It is your right to know and when you know, you make better-informed decisions. Kindly ensure that you train yourself to know what is required always to make you a better person in the public service,” said Ochiel in Kisii town during a sensitisation forum for civil servants.