A sweeping change could soon hit Kenya's public sector, as all government officials may be mandated to seek medical services exclusively from public hospitals. Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege is spearheading this transformative motion, set to be tabled in Parliament.
Addressing the House on Thursday, 1 August, Chege revealed her ambitious plan to compel all public officers to forgo private healthcare in favour of public hospitals. “I will be moving a motion that we encourage public officers to use public hospitals,” she asserted, highlighting the urgency of the matter.
Chege argued that if Members of Parliament and other high-ranking officials began using public facilities, it would ensure that these establishments receive the necessary attention and improvements. “If we ourselves, starting with Members of Parliament, use the public facilities, the CEOs and the doctors will make sure they are there. They will stop rushing to their private practices because a senior government official can show up anytime,” she stated.
Chege also emphasised the financial benefits of such a move. “If you are insured by the public and you have medical insurance of Ksh10 million, let us use that Ksh10 million or Ksh5 million in the public facility so that the money can be ploughed back to the public and we will not have the many pending bills like this,” she argued.
This proposal isn't entirely unprecedented. In 2018, Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Hassan proposed a similar bill, seeking to amend the law to require public officers covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to use government health facilities.
Hassan's bill was driven by the belief that public officers' direct use of these facilities would lead to improved funding, staffing, and equipment.
The proposed amendment to the law would require NHIF to only cover public officers' medical expenses if they are treated in government hospitals. Currently, those covered by NHIF can access services in any approved hospital, regardless of where they are employed.
“With the continued deterioration of health services in the country, it is hoped that such an amendment will not only ensure that hospitals are well equipped, but also ensure there is constant oversight of service delivery by leaders across the country in this very crucial sector,” read the proposed law.
The draft bill did not complete the parliamentary cycle to become law.
According to the Constitution, a public officer is any state officer or any person holding a public office. This definition encompasses officials from the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, counties, independent commissions, and parastatals, all of whom would be required to seek medical attention from public hospitals if the bill is passed.
The conversation about public officers using public services is not new among Kenyans. Many citizens argue that if high-ranking officials, including the President and his family, were required to use public services, there would be a significant improvement in the quality of these services.
The proponents of this policy believe that once these officials experience the same challenges as ordinary citizens, they would be more motivated to enhance service delivery.
However, confidence in public institutions appears to be at an all-time low. This was exemplified when, in December 2022, the National Police Service and the Kenya Prisons Service opted to end their comprehensive medical coverage with NHIF in favour of a private service provider.
