This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
Published on October 24, 2019, a report by the National Assembly Health Committee revealed that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) paid out Sh17 billion for specialized packages for patients who sought treatment abroad in the 2018/2019 financial year.
MPs have expressed concern over the high number of rich Kenyans going abroad to seek treatment under the NHIF at the expense of poor citizens.
According to the report, private hospitals received Sh22 billion from NHIF, while government hospitals received only Sh7 billion. Mission hospitals collected Sh8 billion from NHIF.
Legislators directed NHIF to provide the list of 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, Eseli Simuyu, Zachary Thuku, and Swarup Mishra questioned the fairness of the system, with Mr. Mishra asking, 'How do you determine who should be flown out for specialized treatment, or it's based on who you know and the connection one has at NHIF?'
