The announcement by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani that every Kenyan household will be compelled to pay National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) KSh 6000 annually has attracted backlash from citizens.
Through the Budget Policy Statement for the fiscal year 2012/2022, Yatani said each household would pay KSh 500 monthly (KSh 6000 annually) in order to be enrolled in a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme for outpatient and inpatient services.
The service would also include maternity, dialysis, cancer treatment and surgery.
“Government focus is on the establishment of a mandatory UHC scheme to be managed by NHIF and regulated by the Ministry of Health and act as the national scheme for all persons resident in Kenya, notwithstanding one’s social status,” he said quoted by Business Daily.Currently, only employed Kenyans are compelled to have an NHIF card and remit a monthly fee. Under the UHC scheme, every household will have to pay for the medical service on a monthly or annual basis.
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Kenyans were irked by the compulsory scheme and trooped to social media to express their anger.
The State has offered to sponsor one million poor households at the onset of the UHC scheme, which is modelled on the US’s Obamacare that requires all Americans to buy an insurance cover.
Yatani said the government will help one million households to enrol for the program when it will officially be rolled out.
He noted plans to collect the data for those who will benefit from the state sponsorship are underway.
The government is targetting to attain 100% UHC enrolment by the end of 2022.
Masolo Mabonga is a political and current affairs editor at TUKO.co.ke. He holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Technology with IT from Maseno University and has over five years of experience in digital and print media. He enjoys interviewing sources and creating unique content that informs and educates readers. He believes in hard work and systematic growth. Other than writing, Masolo loves reading books and engaging in constructive political debate. Connect with Masolo on Twitter @MasoloMabonga.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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