The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General Seth Panyako on Wednesday threatened to call for protests against the implementation of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Speaking on an interview with NTV the KNUN Secretary-General noted the major problem with Social Health Authority (SHA) is corruption which was present in the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The KNUN official stated that as a Union they will not allow Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to be mismanaged as the funds are mobilized from Kenyans.
“It is obvious we are going to lead Kenyans in a massive industrial action against the theft that is going on,” he warned. Panyako vowed to monitor SHA to ensure resources are used prudently.
“We cannot sit back and watch somebody stealing from us, robbing us during the day. The problem in SHA is corruption,” he added.
Panyako noted he is not wholly opposed to SHIF implementation saying its model is much better than NHIF. However, he is concerned that SHIF may run into problems due to implementation.
“I want to be very clear, what was proposed in SHA to be offered to Kenyans is way superior than NHIF but it's not being funded because the money is going to two or three people,” he opined.
He faulted the government for purporting to ensure the provision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) when patients are denied critical medical services despite being registered under SHA. “How do you talk of Universal Healthcare Coverage when you are denying people services,” he wondered adding that SHIF program is good but its implementation is wanting.
He noted that a person who is in Nairobi and has a relative listed as a beneficiary at a rural home should not be asked to produce money. The Secretary-General rooted for pregnant mothers to be allowed to give birth without being required to register with SHIF. SHIF has faced challenges since its rollout, some of which have been addressed by the government.
Separately, public unions led by Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Tuesday, threatened to stage demonstrations in the next 14 days if the government fails to heed their demands. KMPDU's Secretary-General Davji Attelah in a statement accused the government for failing to resolve the crisis that hampered access to healthcare.
This comes even as the government has warned employers against failing to register their employees for the SHA. As of October 8, only 120,620 employees had been declared by 15,588 employers according to Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai.
Currently, at least 12.7 million Kenyans have registered under SHA and 1,442 healthcare providers have been contracted to offer services to SHA-registered members.
