Kenyans seeking medical services from private health facilities will have to wait much longer for the Ministry of Health to negotiate with the service providers.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa, while responding to a barrage of questions from senators on the floor of the House yesterday said that the Ministry has engaged President William Ruto, the National Treasury and various state departments in search of funds to clear the arrears.

“This is a critical thing, we are talking to the President, and the Treasury and requesting your support (senators) to ensure we pay the bill,” Barasa said.

Yesterday, Rural and Urban Private Health Association (RUPHA) expressed scepticism that the government was trying to run away from paying the arears owed to them.

Association chairman Dr Brian Lishenga said the planned laying off of former NHIF employees could be part of a scheme to sabotage the reconciliation of the historical debts.

He noted that while some of the staffers could be retained, a majority are likely to lose their jobs, warning that this should not happen before facilities have reconciled their debts with SHA.

According to the private hospitals, the total liability under the NHIF, is in the region of 30 billion and could still be growing, even before considering what is accruing under SHA.

Of the Sh30 billion being claimed, about Sh22 billion is owed to the private sector, with another large number of claims worth Sh6.9 billion remaining archived since 2019 under allegations that those claims were to be audited.

“In the event that the Sh30 billion is not immediately available, we would like a structured payment plan, not exceeding one month, and even if it’s more than three months, these arrears should be settled,” Dr Lishenga observed.

Earlier this week, RUPHA and other faith-based organisations withdrew services over what they termed as ‘unpaid Sh30billion’ debts.

“We are ensuring that our partnership as the ministry with private and faith-based organisations continues. We will honour the bill,” said Barasa.

This, was after nominated Senator Veronica Maina, questioned if the ministry had structured the claim of the Sh30billion being alleged by RUPHA.

The CS however disclosed that government has spent Sh20.9billion in the Social Health Authority (SHA) claims since its inception in October 2024.

Of the amount Sh20.9billion, Barasa said, some Sh18.2billion claims were paid out of which Sh16.9billion relates to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Sh1.3billion relating to Primary Health Care capitation.

Financial safeguards

She was responding to Machakos Senator Enock Wambua who had sought to know the amount of money that has been collected from contributors since the advent of SHIF.

According to the Health CS, SHIF was rolled out on October 1, 2024 to receive contributions and provide medical services.

“SHA management opened bank accounts as per the approved list by the board and the National Treasury. The management opened Absa, Cooperative Bank, DTB, Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Sidian Bank and through M-pesa (200222),” said Barasa.

New system

Barasa further told the senators that the management has instituted proper internal controls to safeguard members’ contributions by ensuring development and implementation of a new system for purposes of SHA operations.

In addition, the management has opened designated bank accounts for handling SHIF, Primary Health Care and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) as well as SHA operations.

ECCIF is a dedicated fund within the SHA system designed to cover the costs of serious health conditions requiring immediate or intensive care, like emergency response, critical care, and chronic illness management.

“Primary Health Care and ECCIF are Exchequer-funded and thereby accessed upon registration. SHIF benefits are available upon payment of 2.75 per cent premium,” said Barasa.

Senators also put Dr Barasa on the spot for what they termed as ‘side-lining and treating them with contempt’ despite a huge chunk of health being devolved.

Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) expressed his disappointment and anger at Barasa, Principal Secretaries Harry Kimtai (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health) for treating Senate with contempt,

Cheruiyot took issue with the officials for skipping Senate’s mid-term review meeting in Naivasha.

“Even if the Cabinet Secretary was not available for our Naivasha retreat she should have sent either of her two Principal Secretaries Harry Kimtai or Mary Muthoni who are my good friends to represent her, we are greatly disappointed by their conduct, this is not acceptable at all,” said Cheruiyot.

The Majority Leader said that the kind of questions that were being raised by senators displayed that the ministry had not interacted with the House as it should be, laying the blame squarely on the CS.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, who is the chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, accused Barasa of showing contempt to the committee by failing to appear before it and appearing to give preferential treatment to the National Assembly’s Health Committee.

Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi (Meru) asked the CS to take the matters raised by Cheruiyot, who represents the government side in the House, seriously and that she should not waste her time chasing to increase her budget in the National Assembly.