Members of Parliament have directed Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki to reduce the cost of medical services in the country.
The lawmakers instructed the CS to immediately replace the existing Medical Practitioners and Dentists Rules of 2016 with the second edition of the Professional Fees Rules and Guidelines of 2006.
In 2006, the rates for various medical services and procedures were cheaper compared to the present charges.
Under the proposed guidelines, the various fees charged by medical practitioners will be slashed by up to 50 per cent.
General practitioner’s first visit consultation fee will drop to a maximum of Kshs 2,500 down from Kshs 5,000. Patients on follow-up visits will be charged not more than Kshs 1,500.
Fees for visiting a specialist will be capped at Kshs 4,000 down from the current ceiling of Kshs 7,500.
Patients will also be required to pay the doctor Kshs 40,000 maximum fee for assisted normal delivery down from Kshs 96,000, while ectopic pregnancy surgery will attract a maximum charge of Ksh 80,000 down from Kshs 144,000.
The Secretary-General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union Ouma Oluga spoke to Kenyans.co.ke and dismissed the move as a “distraction” and “nonsense” by likening the action to a stranger coming to your house and telling you what to eat.
Praising the Universal Health Care, he explained that the government should concentrate on making health affordable in public hospitals and leave private institutions to operate in a free market.
“Details of Final Report were not shared with the Doctors Union and Associations. Our position was clear on the issue of Professional fees for medical & surgical procedures,” read a tweet by Union.
