Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha on Wednesday revealed a plan by the government to establish a comprehensive plan to upgrade maternity care services under the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
This package, according to the Cabinet Secretary, aims to provide extensive coverage for various maternity-related services.
The new insurance fund will also take care of normal and cesarean section deliveries, as well as antenatal and postnatal care.
“We have a comprehensive maternity package where we are covering delivery, whether normal or cesarean section delivery, we are covering antenatal and postnatal care,” CS Nakhumicha stated.
Nakhumicha clarified that the enhancements made to the benefit package offered by SHIF in comparison to the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
One of the most notable improvements is the increase in tariffs for maternity services.
"What is the benefit package that SHA is offering vis-à-vis what was being offered by NHIF? For example, normal delivery under NHIF in public facilities used to receive Ksh5,000. That was the Tariff. Under SHIF, that has been raised from Ksh5,000 to Ksh11,200," Nakhumicha elaborated.
Additionally, the compensation for cesarean section deliveries, according to the CS are set to receive a substantial increase. Under NHIF, facilities were compensated Ksh17,000 per cesarean section. This figure has been significantly raised to Ksh32,000 under SHIF.
“We were paying Ksh17,000 for a cesarean section under NHIF and it was being done, facilities were being compensated, and right now we have moved that to Ksh32,000,” the CS announced.
The Ministry of Health directed that the changes are part of a broader effort by the government to enhance the quality of maternal healthcare and ensure that facilities are adequately compensated for the services they provide.
Nakhumicha's sentiments have come amid rising concerns among Kenyans on the legality and the operation of the proposed health fund.
A section of Kenyans have expressed their doubt on the intention of the government to completely abolish NHIF and replace it with SHIF.
