Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache said in Kilifi that the government has released Sh6 billion to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) for the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
According to Mochache, at least one million Kenyan families have signed up for the program since it began, with another 220,000 expected to sign up this year as the country approaches its goal of four million families.
The PS, who was speaking at the Baolala Health Centre in Malindi Sub County at the same time, urged Kenyans to join the national health insurer by paying Sh500 per month to gain access to services in both public and private health facilities.
She said the government was in talks with telco operator Safaricom with a view to enabling Kenyans to make daily payments to NHIF, noting that with such an arrangement, registered NHIF members would be able pay Sh17 per day.
“Since the programme started, we have registered about one million poor families. This year, we are targeting to register 220,000 and because of this, the government set aside Sh6 billion which it has already released to the NHIF so that those registered can start getting the services,” said Mochache.
The PS expressed joy that all the counties had registered families under the programme, adding that those who piloted the programme had started benefitting.
“Through the NHIF card, the beneficiaries are able to access medical services in various hospitals without paying anything,” she added.
Karisa Dadu, a member of the Kilifi Health Executive Committee (CECM for Health), urged Kenyans to embrace preventive measures in order to stay healthy and avoid spending too much money on medical care in health facilities.
