Amended law will speed up healthcare reforms

Attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is one of the key pillars of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda, with several strategies being put in place by the government to ensure its realisation. 

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) was chosen as the vehicle through which the population will access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship. The decision follows the pilot in 2018/19 in four counties that was implemented on an input financing model, where public facilities were supported with technologies, human capital, equipment and commodities which allowed the public to access services free of charge. 

The scale up has been implemented on an insurance model which has been found to be more sustainable while still focusing on strengthening health systems. To ensure sustainability and cost containment of NHIF, the government initiated a raft of reforms that would transition and position the Fund as a strategic purchaser of healthcare services. 

The reforms bundled in four folds includes the digitalization of NHIF processes, restructuring and realignment of the structure, benefits design, and amendment of the NHIF Act. With the ball rolling on all these plans and initiatives on UHC, a number of strategies have been put in place to ensure that the dream is realised and sustained. Key among these strategies is the on-boarding of all Kenyans as NHIF members. The current membership is 14.3 million principal members and 18.6 dependents totalling to 32.9 million beneficiaries. 

This is 69 per cent of the total population of 47 million Kenyans. However, only 44.6 per cent (6.3 million members) are active.  The active ones mostly need sustained treatment as others come in only because they have a medical need and drop off once met. The trend put a strain on NHIF resources.

The amended NHIF Act gives provision for all Kenyans above 18 years to be registered as NHIF members. The Act has provided for mandatory contribution by all those who can afford to pay for their health insurance while the national government will identify and support indigents and vulnerable households. 

The second strategy is the purchase of healthcare services. The amended Act allows NHIF an opportunity to be creative in in terms of engagement for strategic purchasing of healthcare services. With the change of name, from National Hospital Insurance Fund to National Health Insurance Fund, the Fund can now contract different healthcare providers besides hospitals. They include laboratories, consultants, pharmacies, hospices, and healthcare professionals. Plans are in advanced stages to introduce a pharmacy benefit package that aims at bringing the cost of medication lower and accessible in contracted facilities. 

Supply side financing also remains crucial. The success of UHC will mean that the beneficiaries access the services they need including pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals when they visit healthcare providers. The major drivers of costs are diagnostics and medication. 

A long-term strategy to control and bring down the costs especially related to non-communicable diseases is by partnering with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to ensure strategic purchasing for efficiency and value for money for NHIF beneficiaries. This is done by negotiating for lower prices for the drugs that fit within the NHIF benefit packages. The partnership will support the development and establishment of a tailored pricing and reimbursement system that will enable efficient resource use. 

Engagement with counties is also key. There is need to look at how to increase capacity in public facilities as this will ensure access to most beneficiaries. NHIF has contracted 7,666 healthcare providers (HCPs), 72 per cent of which are public facilities.  Providing incentives to county facilities such as the current plan by NHIF to standardize reimbursement across all HCPs will go a long way in attaining UHC. The ripple effect is improved quality and continuation of care that will impact on the country’s pricing of healthcare services. 

But most importantly, data harvesting will play a key role in decision making. Sustainability and strengthening of systems in the health sector requires the reduction in the cost of care, reduction of preventable illnesses and bundling the costs of specialised care. 

—The writer is CEO, National Health Insurance Fund