The Kenyan government has countered recent statements by Catholic bishops regarding alleged unpaid debts by the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The bishops said the government was building a culture of dishonesty and unfulfilled promises, noting that the failure to support key services, such as payments owed to hospitals and NHIF funding, leaves many vulnerable.
They emphasize the need for transparency and commitment in governance.
In a press statement issued by the Ministry of Health, Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mlongo dismissed the bishops’ assertions as “misleading, erroneous, and false,” clarifying that the government is actively addressing outstanding liabilities to healthcare providers.
According to the CS Mlongo, the defunct NHIF accumulated a debt of KSh 19 billion to healthcare providers over the past decade.
Efforts to settle these historical debts are already underway, with the government having mobilised KSh 7.58 billion within the last month.
Of this amount, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has disbursed over KSh 5 billion to various facilities, including nearly KSh 939 million to health centres affiliated with faith-based organizations, a majority of which are run by the Catholic Church.
The Ministry noted that the defunct NHIF had service contracts with 8,886 healthcare facilities across the public, private, and faith-based sectors, with 312 facilities (3.5% of the total) belonging to faith-based groups.
The SHA has pledged to release the remaining KSh 2.5 billion by next week and to progressively clear all unpaid claims under the previous NHIF system.
Furthermore, the SHA is processing new claims filed in October and November 2024 under the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The Ministry has assured healthcare providers that these claims will be paid promptly.
The Ministry urged the Catholic Church and other stakeholders to support the SHA rollout, reiterating its commitment to transparent, accessible, and affordable healthcare.
