Report Shows Wealthier Kenyans And Private Hospitals Are Biggest NHIF Beneficiaries At Expense Of The Poor

MPs have raised concern over the high number of rich Kenyans going abroad to seek treatment under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) at the expense of poor citizens.

Documents of financial statements presented before the National Assembly Health Committee Wednesday revealed that NHIF paid out Sh17 billion for specialised packages for patients who sought treatment abroad in the 2018/2019 financial year.

The MPs demanded an explanation from NHIF on why it paid more money to private hospitals.

The report on the financial reimbursement to hospitals indicate that private hospitals gobbled up Sh22 billion compared to government hospitals, which received only Sh7 billion. Mission hospitals collected Sh8 billion from NHIF.

The legislators directed NHIF to provide the list of the private hospitals that have benefited from the kitty and the names of individuals who were facilitated by the insurance fund to go for treatment abroad.

MPs David Ochieng (Ugenya), Eseli Simuyu (Tongaren), Zachary Thuku (Kinangop) and Swarup Mishra (Kesses) said the poor have been contributing at NHIF to facilitate the rich to go abroad for specialised treatment.

“How do you determine who should be flown out for specialised treatment, or it’s based on who you know and the connection one has at NHIF? Asked Mr Mishra.

Via DN.