The Trade Union Congress of Kenya secretary-general Wilson Sossion
addresses journalists on January 30, 2015. With him are health fund
chairman Mahmud Ali, union chairman Tom Odege (right) and other
officials. Two trade unions want the National Hospital Insurance Fund to
immediately initiate dialogue with stakeholders over its new rates.
PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Two trade unions want the National Hospital Insurance Fund to
immediately initiate dialogue with stakeholders over its new rates.
Trade
Union Congress (TUC) Chairman Tom Odege said it would be useless for
the fund to force poor Kenyans to bankroll a project whose success is
not guaranteed.
Mr Odege called on NHIF Chief Executive
Officer Simon Kirgotty to consult stakeholders before taking any
further steps on the rates.
“Attempts to have the
matter subjected to constructive dialogue flopped after NHIF management
went ahead to gazette the rates while talks were still on,” said Mr
Odege.
“We have suggested the new rates should be based
on an individual’s salary to ensure deductions do not leave Kenyans
without something to eat. Otherwise, we will end up with everybody in
hospital due to malnutrition.”
Mr Odege lamented that
NHIF had sidelined civil servants, who are the major stakeholders in the
fund. “Civil servants are not represented in NHIF and this is
unacceptable. We want them to have representation so they can have a say
in the management of the fund,” he added.
And speaking
before leaving for an official trip in South Korea, Kenya National
Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion said teachers
would demand refunds of last month’s deductions when the implementation
of the rates started.
“NHIF must allow stakeholders to
decide the fate of the fund. Arrogance will not subdue the resolve to
oppose the rates,” said Mr Sossion.
“Teachers cannot
afford the new rates. We have given our suggestions but the NHIF has
refused to take our advice into consideration. That is why we will make
sure it doesn’t take off. Teachers and other public servants must also
be refunded,” said Mr Sossion who is also the TUC-K secretary-general.
He
called on the government to go slow on the implementation of the new
rates and invest in proper management of resources already at the
disposal of the NHIF through the existing revenue system.
This
week, NHIF published a list of 1,100 hospitals where Kenyans can access
medical services under the new universal health care programme.
Mr Kirgotty insisted contributors stand to benefit more from the new scheme than the old one.
“Members
will be required to choose health facilities nearer to them for
outpatient services. We have finalised consultations on the list of
health care facilities,” he said.
And NHIF chairman
Mohamud Ali admitted the Fund was yet to enter into contracts with
private hospitals to provide outpatient services.
Mr
Ali told the Nation that the list of accredited hospitals published on
Monday was not exhaustive. “It was based on hospitals already signed up
for the Civil Servants Scheme, and who the insurer hopes will come on
board of the new outpatient scheme as well,” said Mr Ali.
Meanwhile,
a comprehensive medical scheme for more than 288,000 teachers now hangs
in the balance after their union demanded more consultations.
Kenya
Union of Post Primary Education Teachers has written to the Teachers
Service Commission chief executive officer Gabriel Lengoiboni demanding
talks.
“The union demands that any further move towards
another deduction towards the medical cover be subjected to thorough
consultations,” Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori said in a letter
dated May 19.
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