The Ministry of Health has responded to the criticism leveled by Catholic bishops on reneging on its promise to clear arrears amounting to billions owed to faith-based hospitals under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
In an official statement dated Thursday, November 14, Health CS Debora Mlongo Barasa has accused the bishops of misleading Kenyans with their sentiments, claiming that it has been paying the NHIF debts.
“The government takes great exception to the misleading, erroneous, and false statement issued by Catholic Church Bishops on obligations owed by the government through the defunct NHIF,” asserted CS Barasa.
According to the Ministry, it is working towards paying the Ksh19 billion owed by NHIF to various hospitals accrued within 10 years. It has further clarified that it has paid Ksh900 million of the debt to the faith-based hospitals contrary to the bishop’s allegations.
Health Cabinet Secretary Debra during SHA training, September 2024.
Photo
Debra Mlongo
“The government is fully committed to settling these historical debts and consequently in the last month, Ksh7.58 billionaire mobilized to pay these debts,” stated Barasa.
“So far, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has disbursed Ksh5 billion to various providers including Ksh938,605,212 million to facilities owned by faith-based organizations, the majority of which are Catholic-run institutions,” Barasa said.
According to the CS, the government is still committed to fully paying the debt. The Ministry has revealed that SHA’s next move was to disburse the remaining Ksh2.5 billion by next week.
“The government through the Social Health Authority, will disburse the remaining Ksh2.5 billion by next week and is committed to progressively clearing all unpaid NHIF claims,” asserted Barasa.
The CS has assured that SHA is currently reconciling new claims submitted by providers in October and November 2024 under SHIF and ensured all providers that these claims will be paid on time.
Stakeholders including the the Bishops have been called upon to support the SHA rollout instead of bushing it.
In its disbursement to the cabinet on Thursday, the Ministry of Health informed that over 14 million Kenyans have so far registered for SHA.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) addressing the press on Thursday, April 11.
Photo
Radio Waumini
