The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on Friday, July 23, added nearly 7,000 hospitals to its list in a move that will see many Kenyans across the country access affordable health care.
This follows an agreement between the government-funded insurance corporation and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) that will see hospitals owned and operated by clinical officers accredited.
Patients will not have to pay their own cash as long as they have the NHIF card.
According to the union national chairman Peterson Wachira, the deal comes after five years of holding discussions with the Ministry of Health under CS Mutahi Kagwe.
The doctor noted that NHIF never considered the union as self-regulated, treating them differently from other unions, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, Kenya Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
“We advocated for the deal to ensure dignity in our practice. This deal will ensure fairness in practice for all medical officers.
“The agreement will solve the limitations on diagnostic imaging by clinical officers, limitation on declaration and accreditation of facilities owned by clinical officers, and limitations on requisition for medical procedures by clinical officers,” Wachira stated.
Wachira noted that the agreement will enable many Kenyans across the country to access cheap health care across the country.
“We are closer to patients all over the country and we offer affordable and quality health services that are affordable to patients,” Wachira noted.
The union chairman added that the agreement will help achieve the Universal Health Care program as it allows many clinical officers to open private facilities to offer medical services.
The officers will be required to register with the Clinical Officers Council which will then update NHIF with their information based on specialization.
The NHIF will also receive a list of inspected and certified medical facilities for approval.
