By Grace Gilo
The Kenya Faith-based health services consortium, which includes the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), managing approximately 1300 health facilities countrywide, have issued an ultimatum to the government.
They demanded the settlement of health claims by 21st March.
Failure to comply will result in patients seeking treatment to pay cash or being turned away.
In a press conference in Nairobi attended by key clergymen representing the health institutions, demanded immediate payment of Ksh. 10 billion that has accrued over a period, dating back to the now defunct National Hospital Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) before any further discussions.
According to the consortium, NHIF owes them Ksh. 6.8 billion, the Social Health Authority (SHA) Ksh 2.2 billion and MAKL, the scheme under which police prison officers and teachers are, Ksh 1 billion.
“Some of these claims have exceeded 90 days. We demand all SHA payments pending claims to be paid by 21st March in line with the Social Health Authority Act 2023,” stated Bishop Asilutwa.
Bishop Asilutwa also called for a reduction in the SHA claim processing stages, insisting that the government should resolve all claims within 14 days from the invoicing date.
He noted that the SHA’s lengthy claim processing stages mimic the lengthy, crafty stages of the past NHIF hick system that was intended to be improved under SHA.
Machakos bishop Norman King’oo supported calls to dismiss health cabinet secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, asserting that the current system is ineffective.
“We are saying there is something seriously wrong in the system,” he added.
SUPKEM chairman Hassan Ole Naado emphasized that the government should take control of the SHA system and ensure that staff members are adequately trained and equipped to enhance the efficiency of the SHA system for both clients and service providers.
“Hospitals are unable to get adequate help from SAHA regional offices. They seem not to have been trained or empowered to make any decisions. They always refer all questions and support requests to the SHA developer who appears to be outside of SHA, unreachable and with all authority,” he stated.
Consequently, Bishop Dr. Lang’at, who is in charge of Tenwek Hospital, said that they would be forced to turn away patients notwithstanding the fact they perform over 75% of operations, insisting the debts accrued have pushed them to the wall.