In the event that they become ill, Kenyans won't have to shell out exorbitant sums of money for healthcare out of pocket.
President William Ruto on Friday said the four health laws he signed on Thursday are aimed at strengthening healthcare provision and attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
The Primary Healthcare Act, the Facility Improvement Financing Act, and the Digital Health Act were all signed by Ruto on Thursday.
Speaking at the Mashujaa Day festivities in Kericho, the President noted that while a number of prior initiatives to strengthen the NHIF's capability had produced some positive results, there were still a number of holes.
According to his study, the NHIF has governance issues, acts as a passive rather than a strategic purchaser, and may not be able to sustain its financial position.
He pointed out that the Social Health Insurance Act creates the Social Health Insurance Fund in addition to a publicly funded chronic, emergency, and critical disease fund.
The President stated that with the money, everyone in Kenya will have access to health care regardless of their ability to pay.
“We are implementing a per-household payment system where a flat rate applies to everyone, regardless of their income,” Ruto said.
He previously stated that the rates were unfair to low-income taxpayers because they effectively subsidised high-income people.
“The Social Health Insurance Fund also signifies a shift to increased use of domestic resources for health financing and a sustainable approach, especially at a time when resources form donors and development partners are dwindling,” Ruto said.
The President noted that the nation's healthcare system places a greater emphasis on curative treatments than preventive and promotional ones.
According to him, this has led to financial imbalance, which has hurt the promotion and uptake of primary healthcare.
The Facility Improvement Financing Act, he continued, will instruct the counties on how to keep track of, administer, and spend the money earned by health-related services provided at public health facilities.
Before, money given to public health facilities was usually sent to the county revenue fund and hardly ever returned to the clinics.
According to the President, there has been a rise in fragmentation, subpar service delivery, and declining health outcomes as a result of the lack of autonomy in public health facility administration and budgetary control.
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