This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
Kenya's National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been criticized for its new rules, which critics say are a barrier to universal health care.
The NHIF has introduced a new policy that requires new contributors to pay a year's worth of contributions before they can access health services. This means that individuals who are struggling to make ends meet will have to pay Ksh2,000 every month for a year before they can receive any benefits.
The NHIF has also introduced penalties for those who fail to pay their contributions on time, which could lead to a situation where the scheme is unsustainable.
According to a memo sent by the NHIF's acting Head of Registration and Compliance, R. O. Otom, the new rules are aimed at curbing defaulters, but critics argue that they are unfair and will only serve to push more people into poverty.
The NHIF's new rules have been met with criticism from civil servants, who have been struggling to access health services through the scheme. The Union of Public Servants has been trying to exit the NHIF since early 2019, but the process has been met with resistance from the government.
As per the current deal, the NHIF gathers a whopping Sh 4.6 billion from the civil servants' monthly contribution every year, added to the premium cost of the scheme which stands at Sh 4.2 billion, the NHIF gets Sh 8.8 billion every year.
Published on January 10, 2020, the NHIF's new rules have sparked widespread criticism, with many calling for the scheme to be scrapped and replaced with a more reliable and accessible health care system.
