NHIF headquarters in Nairobi. The Jubilee Government has moved to expand the National Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover 13 million Kenyans. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
More Kenyans are set to benefit from quality health care services as the Jubilee Government moves to expand the National Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover 13 million Kenyans, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
The President said his administration is keen to revamp the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in line with the Jubilee Manifesto he launched on Monday to ensure all Kenyans have access to quality health care.
He said his administration has expanded the reach of NHIF to increase the number covered from 3.8 million in 2013 to 6.8 million Kenyans by 2017 and intends to increase the number to 13 million Kenyans in the next five years.
‘We have expanded NHIF to ensure that as long as any Kenyan has an NHIF card, they can receive health care services not only in Government hospitals but also in mission and private hospitals,” President Kenyatta said.
The President spoke on Tuesday at Chuka as he wrapped up a day-long tour of the Jubilee-stronghold of Tharaka Nithi where he took his re-election campaign drive and also popularised the Jubilee Party Manifesto for the next five years.
He said all senior citizens aged 70 years and above will also have access to free treatment under the expanded NHIF package.
The pledge is part of the party’s policy on health that includes provision of a one and a half year NHIF insurance cover for all new born babies and their mothers.
President Kenyatta said families with physically challenged children will also get insured under the new scheme.
“We are expanding NHIF cover to all Kenyans above 70 years of age and also to provide insurance to families with children with disability,” President Kenyatta said, amid cheers from thousands of Jubilee supporters who turned out for the rally.
Through its Manifesto, the Jubilee Party also promises to set up 10 new referral hospitals across the country so as to ensure quality healthcare at the county level. The party also pledged to ensure that NHIF will also cater for a broader set of services.
President Kenyatta said NHIF will also be expanded to cover availability of drugs by establishing cold chains for drugs and vaccines to ensure safe and high quality drugs are available across the country.
“Our commitment to the Kenyan people is to establish at least one specialised cancer hospital in the country to reduce the financial burden and other challenges faced by patients seeking cancer treatment,” President Kenyatta said.