Fresh storm over National Hospital Insurance Fund with health providers
By Mathew.Ndungu, December 24, 2021Healthcare providers want the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to halt changes proposed in contracts for the 2022-24 until they formally receive copies of the draft contracts.
The Kenya Association of Private Hospital, Rural Private Hospital Association of Kenya, Kenya Dental Association and Kenya Medical Association claim the process of developing the contracts was unprocedural to the extent that meaningful engagement of healthcare providers did not take place.
Reports indicate the State-backed insurer has unilaterally proceeded to issue contracts to some of their member facilities for summary execution, in certain instances within a 24-hour period.
“Our input was not sought and saved for a few providers, we are not privy to the contents of the contracts currently being circulated for execution,” the healthcare providers stated in a joint communique.
While warning that the move might cause disruptions in the provision of healthcare services, they maintained that rushed execution of contracts without adequate time for perusal and subsequent implementation would further be counterproductive.
They stated that the medical benefit packages were developed without proper stakeholders’ involvement and have the impact of lowering the quality of healthcare services to the public if implemented as proposed.