This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, the introduction of free medical cover for the elderly was a significant milestone in social protection. The programme, targeting those 70 years and above, aimed to cushion senior citizens and enable them to access reasonably good medical care without worrying about costs.
Managed through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Inua Jamii is bankrolled by the government under its pillar of social protection. The elderly not only access free medical care but also receive a monthly stipend for upkeep. This support is crucial, given the importance of old people in society and their rights that must be enforced.
However, the programme has run into headwinds. The government has not been remitting money to NHIF, and in turn, the corporation has not been paying medical bills to hospitals. This has forced facilities to stop treating beneficiaries, leaving them without access to essential medical care.
The elderly are particularly vulnerable to ill health and the associated costs of medication. With resources dwindling and poverty levels rising, it is no longer feasible for them to rely on family support. Governmental intervention is, therefore, paramount to ensure their well-being.
Conceptually, the support programme can be achieved through proper planning and resourcing. The numbers involved are not insurmountable, with approximately 520,000 elderly persons listed for the programme. The government allocates Sh500 per person annually for medical care, a modest sum that should not be a significant burden.
The programme is part of the universal health coverage that the Jubilee administration has committed to pursue under its ‘Big Four Agenda’. It is a right that the State is obligated to actualise. The government must quickly release the funds for the seniors’ medical care and ensure Inua Jamii does not collapse and ruin the lives of those in their sunset years.
