Allocation for free maternity cut by Sh200m

Patients at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE 

By KIARIE NJOROGE

The Treasury has cut the allocation for free maternity services to Sh4.1 billion for the year beginning July, exposing hospitals and health centres to a potential funding crisis.

The cut could see the Treasury run out of funds to reimburse hospitals for maternity services plunging them into a cash crisis.

Jason Lakin, an economist with the International Budget Partnership, said that the Sh200 million reduction was worrying as hospitals have been complaining that the amount allocated per mother is too low.

The free maternity service was introduced in 2013 with health centres receiving Sh2,500 per delivery, Level 4 and 5 hospitals Sh5,000, and referral hospitals Sh17,500.

“We should be concerned. There have been concerns about whether the free maternity grant is big enough and now it’s being cut further, that doesn’t address the concern that it wasn’t big enough,” Mr Lakin said on Thursday