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State disburses Sh6b for UHC programme

Thursday, September 9th, 2021 00:00 | By
Health PS launches bio metric NHIF registration for poor People in Kisii county.

The Government has disbursed Sh6 billion to finance the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) insurance programme for one million households.

Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache made the disclosure as she presided over the official launch of the Biometric Registration of targeted poor households for UHC insurance in Kisii county on Tuesday.

She was flanked by Governor James Ongwae as they unveiled the programme at Getembe Medical Centre in Kitutu Chache South.

Mochache stated that the government is committed to making UHC a priority policy.

“Indeed, we are determined to ensure every citizen gains access to quality and affordable healthcare services as we seek to cushion Kenyans from the negative impacts of ill health,” said the PS.

The Government is rolling out the programme to cover the most disadvantaged, marginalised, vulnerable and the most excluded households starting with an initial one million spread across all the 47 counties.

The PS further petitioned counties to ensure that the one million households are registered digitally to ease the payment  process.

Biometric registration shall be conducted in three points - through outreaches by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (identified locations in collaboration with counties).

This will be done at NHIF service points and at the hospitals at the point the member or dependent is seeking services. 

UHC journey continues to be implemented in phases, with the first that was rolled out for a year between December 2018-19.

During this period, there was a marked increase in hospital visits for the people in the targeted counties.

The government is now engaged in a UHC scale-up exercise with a health insurance cover for more than five million poor and vulnerable households.

The Government, she stated, was keen to ensure that the insurance claims management processes are made as efficient as possible.

Accredited facilities

Mochache divulged that the ministry has directed that all claims processes will be digital through the E-Claim platform, which was launched in April.

E-claim registration is currently ongoing for accredited healthcare facilities in KEPH levels Four to Five Government and all faith-based and private facilities.

The government set the foundation of UHC insurance through a number of related health programmes including the Linda Mama Programme (‘free’ maternity services) at a cost of Sh4 billion, the Secondary School Students’ Insurance Scheme (Edu Afya) at a cost of KSh4 billion annually, the Health Insurance Subsidies for Orphans and Vulnerable Children costing Sh1.5 billion and Older Persons and Persons with severe disabilities costing Sh352 Million.

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