Stop NHIF registration and consult us, Oparanya tells CS Kagwe

 

Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya has asked the Ministry of Health to stop the ongoing NHIF registration in counties.

This was after the council was informed on an ongoing registration in the counties without the knowledge of the county government.

In the President’s Big Four Agenda, the development and implementation of any UHC model is a matter of concern for both levels of government.

UHC delivery is not a function of the National Hospital Insurance Fund, it is a joint responsibility for the County Governments and the National Government.

“Stop the ongoing NHIF registration…failure to consult and the lack of transparency in such processes can only breed mistrust and in the long run, prejudices the Counties,” Oparanya said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Oparanya said NHIF registration cannot be done in the counties without consultation.

"Such an important process can only be undertaken once the two levels of government have discussed and agreed on the modalities for delivery of UHC,” he said.

Oparanya said the mechanisms for consultation and coordination in the performance of functions are clearly articulated in the Constitution and the Intergovernmental Relations Act.

"The NHIF reform process has not been finalised and it requires the involvement of both levels of government. The Multi-Agency Taskforce report is yet to be adopted and disseminated,” he said.

"This report contains significant recommendations that were proposed by County Governments.”

He said that supposing the report is adopted anyway, both levels of government will jointly agree on the roadmap and modes of implementation for the report. 

"NHIF cannot proceed to implement any health programs in the Counties without consultation with County Governments,” he said.

“The government has a duty to ensure that it respects functional integrity by consulting with County Governments before proceeding to undertake any health reforms at the County level."

UHC, whose pilot phase was launched in December 2018 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, is intended to ensure all Kenyans have access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services at minimum financial burden.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said the programme will be under the National Hospital Insurance Fund, which will biometrically capture the details of everyone registered.

UHC is one of the Big Four Agendas President Kenyatta wants to transform Kenya with by 2022. The others are manufacturing, food security and affordable housing.

The pilot phase covered Machakos, Kisumu, Nyeri and Isiolo counties.

The lessons learnt will inform the roll out of UHC in the rest of the country.