Donation Amount. Min £2

The government yesterday said it will change the structure of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme towards achieving universal health care.

President William Ruto said though there has been progress in enrolling more members, the challenge with NHIF is that it is more of an occupational scheme for salaried people in the public and private sectors. 

Saying it is not a social insurance scheme as it ought to be, Ruto said the Government will change the contribution structure from an individual contributory scheme to a household model.

“Reforming NHIF is a necessary imperative. Progress has been made in enrolling more members. In the past 10 years, 12 million Kenyans have joined the fund,” said Ruto during the Mashujaa day celebrations.

“The challenge, however, is that the NHIF is an occupational scheme for salaried people on the payroll in the public and private sectors and not the social insurance scheme it ought to be. We shall change the contribution structure from an individual contributory scheme to a household contribution model,” he added. 

Ruto noted that health is front and centre of socio-economic development and that failure of a healthcare system undermines prosperity.

According to the President, Kenyan families spend a total of Sh150 billion out-of-pocket expenditures on health services a year mobilised from various sources, including harambees, Whatsapp MPesa, loans, sale of land and other assets, to pay hospital bills for loved ones.

Similarly, he said that many small businesses fail when owners fall ill and cannot work, or divert money to pay medical expenses.

“It is no wonder, then, that it is commonly said that most families and individuals in Kenya are one illness away from poverty. 1 million Kenyans sink into poverty every year because of medical expenses,” he explained.

“We want to lift this punitive burden from the shoulders of Kenyans and their businesses through our universal health care plan,” Ruto added. 

He said the plan is to revitalise primary healthcare by laying more emphasis on preventive and promotive strategies.

Many critical health illnesses, including cancer, heart complications, kidney failure and hypertension, he said, can be detected and addressed at this level without the need for a hospital. 

By Irene Githinji, People Daily

About IEA Media Ltd

Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.

To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.

We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.

Get in touch

Our Offices

London, UK
+44 7886 544135
editor (@) informereastafrica.com
Slough, UK
+44 7957 636854
info (@) informereastafrica.com

Latest News

African trade war escalates as Tanzania bans all agricultural imports from South Africa, Malawi

African trade war es...

Tanzania has blocked all agricultural imports from Malawi, its southern neighbour, and South Africa...

South Sudan opposition group urges Nuer militia to abandon Machar

South Sudan oppositi...

Former SPLM-IO governor of the defunct Sobat state and member of the NLC Duer Tut Duer. [Photo via...

DR Congo and M23 rebels reach ceasefire deal in Qatar talks

DR Congo and M23 reb...

It is the latest truce deal since the rebels stepped up an offensive in eastern DR Congo where autho...

Nairobi clinicians protest against Sakaja administration over poor treatment

Nairobi clinicians p...

Kenya union of clinical officers (KUCO) Chair Peter Wachira addresses Clinical officers singing sol...

For Advertisement

Big Reach

Informer East Africa is one platform for all people. It is a platform where you find so many professionals under one umbrella serving the African communities together.

Very Flexible

We exist to inform you, hear from you and connect you with what is happening around you. We do this professionally and timely as we endeavour to capture all that you should never miss. Informer East Africa is simply news for right now and the future.

Quality News

We only bring to you news that is verified, checked and follows strict journalistic guidelines and standards. We believe in 1. Objective coverage, 2. Impartiality and 3. Fair play.

Banner & Video Ads

A banner & video advertisement from our sponsors will show up every once in a while. It keeps us and our writers coffee replenished.