President William Ruto has painted a picture of hope among poor Kenyans seeking treatment in public hospitals announcing for the umpteenth time the government will pay hospital bills for those who are unable.
He also raised expectations for thousands of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) with a pronouncement that their monthly stipend from the national government will be paid at the end of the month. This is meant to co-match the payments made by counties.
During Mashujaa Day celebrations, Ruto, while unveiling the 100,000 CHPs in Kericho, he said that his government had agreed with the counties to co-match the counties on a 50-50 basis, more of an appreciation arrangement.
“I commend counties who have already paid CHP and commit that the National Government’s portion will be paid at the end of this month,” Ruto said yesterday during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens.
Paradigm shift
He said never will any Kenyan suffer catastrophic costs while seeking healthcare services as the renewed Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan seeks a paradigm shift where health challenges will be arrested at the community level.
He noted that economic productivity and general well-being of the country is significantly hampered by a population that is prone to ill-health.
“Individual and family medical expenditure drains household incomes, and erodes family savings, in many cases, leading to financial ruin and destitution.
“And for this reason, our Universal Health Coverage plan seeks a paradigm shift in the provision of healthcare, from curative to a largely preventive and promotive approach,” he said, noting that the radical transformative plan has already seen the enactment of four Acts of Parliament.
He noted that the new laws provide a framework in the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
“This will liberate the people of Kenya from the burden of catastrophic hospital bills on the treatment of conditions like cancer, diabetes, hypertension and other critical and chronic conditions,” he said, referring to the new Fund.
Further, President Ruto emphasised the country needed a new funding framework that is fair, equitable and progressive, adding that for the first time, the government will cater for medical costs for all vulnerable Kenyans.
