Kenya Cabinet Approves Splitting of NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund)
In honor of the President’s pledge to accelerate Kenya’s attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Cabinet has considered and approved four crucial bills that promote healthcare, to be transmitted to Parliament. These are:
- The Primary HealthCare Bill, 2023
- The Digital Health Bill, 2023
- The Facility Improvement Financing Bill, 2023
- The Social Health Insurance Bill, 2023
These four bills usher in a new paradigm in the legal and institutional framework for healthcare in Kenya by repealing the current NHIF and establishing the following three funds in its place:
- Primary Healthcare Fund
- Social Health Insurance Fund
- Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund
The NHIF has experienced a steady decline in fulfilling its mandate in recent years. The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) had even banned the use of the NHIF card due to nonpayment by the insurer. This situation left many Kenyans in distress because the NHIF is the most popular health insurance in the country and is relied upon by the majority. Patients have had to pay in cash or go untreated. While public hospitals still accept the NHIF card as a mode of payment, the insurer only covers limited services, prompting patients to seek assistance from private hospitals. The Cabinet’s decision to repeal the current NHIF is a significant relief for Kenyans.
We will be updating the public on the provisions of these bills as they are published. We hope this information helps in understanding the current developments regarding the repeal of the National Health Insurance Fund and the establishment of the Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, and Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
Please note that the contents of this newsletter are intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. It should not be relied upon without legal advice on its contents.
For further information or legal assistance on compliance or any other legal issue, please contact us at info@wka.co.ke, wakilihub.co.ke/, +254 798 03 580, Nairobi Hub: Parklands, Valley View Business Park, 6th Floor, City Park Drive, Off Limuru Road.
Authors:
- Founding Partner: William Karoki
- Lawyer: Florence Mwende
