Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa Wednesday came under attack from senators who accused her of failing to address concerns on the Social Health Authority (SHA), exposing patients to suffering. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah wondered why Kenyans were paying so much for healthcare yet the services were still wanting. "There is not country in the world that has effectively implemented Universal Health Care that is funded through premiums but through taxes.
Kenya is a signatory to the Abuja declaration, when did we turn away from this and make citizens pay for this," said Omtatah.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey weighed in, demanding answers on the death of baby Aliana Wairimu, whose SHA only paid Sh23,000 of her Sh1.6 million hospital bill.
Cherarkey sought to know whether the Primary Health Care Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund were functional, pointing out that the ministry has left President William Ruto struggling to sell the new scheme. .Keep ReadingWhat to expect as NHIF paves way for SHAExperts warn SHIF deductions do not tally with expected benefitsConfusion as top officials snub SHA digital demonstration eventWhat's next for NHIF contributors?
