There is a bill in parliament to amend the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) act. The bill seeks to add optical services under NHIF cover. This means that if the bill to amend the NHIF act becomes law, then Kenyans who have registered with NHIF and are paying their monthly premiums will not pay for eye treatments.
All members of Parliament should all rally behind this bill and pass it unanimously. And here is why. Health care is still beyond reach of many Kenyans. It takes a huge chunk off the ordinary Kenyan budget. Many have lost their lives because they cannot afford quality health care. While the rich have the option of taking their sick family members for specialized medical treatment abroad, the ordinary Kenyans have no option but watch their family members die.
Eye treatment and other optical services are very expensive. The common wananchi cannot even afford to buy eyeglasses. Eye Hospitals are few and the few ones charge highly for specialized eye treatment. If the bill becomes law, then ordinary Kenyans will get a chance to access optical services at reduced charges. They will be able to pay for eye treatment using their NHIF cards. It will greatly assist the old people who are prone to have eye complications.
According to a report published in the Business Daily on 14th May, the bill also seek to amend the NHIF act to enable members of NHIF to get eyeglasses. A pair of optical eyeglasses which corrects eye defects such as nearsightedness and farsightedness go for as much as Kshs 8,000. This is way beyond reach of many Kenyans of low salary scale. It will, therefore, come as a big relief if the bill becomes law.