Kiambu politician Gladys Chania has called for the waiver of hospitals bills for patients in dire need.
Chania on Thursday criticised hospitals for subjecting needy patients to humiliations and actions such as detention over their inability to clear bills.
She argued that the social welfare offices in health facilities across the country should offer patients economical advice as well as sensitise them on the importance of insurance covers.
“Being poor is not a crime. Kenyans should not be subjected to the mercies of well-wishers. If it's about health covers, let's have our citizens be sensitised on insurance covers such as the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Linda Mama, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) etc," said Chania.
"Let our people at the grassroots level be sensitised on the need for insurance covers and the ones whose poverty level is direly wanting to be given waiver and economically advised,” she added.
Chania, who is also an anti-drug crusader, further faulted governors, MPs and MCAs for failing to oversight the implementation of the existing health policies, adding that clearing of individual bills by politicians is not a solution as many Kenyans are suffering.
She cited the case of Boniface Murage who was recently arrested for attempting to smuggle his daughter out of the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after he was unable to pay Sh56,000 medical bill.
Murage was later handed a three-month non-custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to defraud the hospital.
The outspoken politician also pledged support for Nyali MP Mohamed Ali's proposal to introduce a bill that will see hospital bills waived upon the death of patients.
"This will push the hospitals to try as much as they can to save lives. The best way to handle a patient will be part of the hospitals' management discussion in their morning and evening meetings," she said.
"At least after death, part of the bill should be waived. This is not what I call populism. I support Hon Ali," further stated the Kiambu politician.
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