President William Ruto has directed all Kenyans to reject requests for payment from dispensaries and healthcare centres across the country.
In a statement conveyed by the head of Presidential Special Projects & Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, Ruto emphasised that primary Healthcare in the country is free and no Kenyan should be asked to pay.
‘’President William Samoei Ruto asks Kenyans to reject attempts to charge them for services at dispensaries and Health centres. Primary Health Care is FREE,’’ Itumbi wrote.
The directive is part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative, established under the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA).
Hospital Charges
The SHA package includes free consultations, diagnostics, medications, basic radiology, laboratory tests, immunisations, maternal and child care, mental health support, and minor outpatient procedures.
Barely a month ago, Health CS Aden Duale reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s primary healthcare system through accountability, timely compensation for frontline workers, and protection of public resources under SHA.
Speaking on July 5, Duale maintained that under SHA, primary healthcare services at dispensaries, health centres, and sub-county hospitals are fully free of charge for registered members.
However, despite this, many public facilities continue to charge patients seeking primary health care services.
“If you go to a registered facility and are asked to pay for primary care services, report immediately. We will act,” he warned, stating that the Ministry will deal firmly with any attempts to misuse the government insurance scheme.
Any attempt to ask for payments can be reported through *147#, Duale revealed then.
The directive comes amid stringent scrutiny among hospitals in the country, as the Ministry tightens the loop over non-compliance.
On Tuesday, August 26, the Ministry shut down 45 hospitals over non-compliance, bringing the suspended hospitals to 773 so far.
