NHIF CEO Geoffrey Mwangi. [Photo/Nation]
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) paid Sh5.9 billion in medical bills in the last four months.
Half of the money went into surgeries.
NHIF chief executive Geoffrey Mwangi said chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis and diagnostic tests such as MRI and CT scans also made it to the list of top claims.
“Surgeries are more expensive even if less are done. We have over 15 minor surgeries, for instance, to cater for in that package,” Mr Mwangi said.
Data show that Sh3.1 billion was paid out for specialized, major and minor surgeries alone.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy accounted for Sh769 million while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan and dialysis took out Sh264 million.
The NHIF started covering surgical treatment of up to Sh500,000 per procedure last October after signing contracts with more than 2,000 hospitals, including the high-end private ones such as Aga Khan, MP Shah, Nairobi and Mater.