The County Government of Makueni intends to introduce a health care scheme in an effort to address the inefficiencies of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), area Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has disclosed.
Mutula noted that many people seeking services in Level 4 hospitals, especially outpatient services were unable to access medical services saying SHIF requires one to be admitted before they can get services in these health facilities.
Consequently, the Governor said that the Department of Health and that of Gender have identified between 30,000 and 40,000 households who are vulnerable that were initially supported by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). "Part of the problem of SHIF is the outpatient services where the clauses require that one has to be admitted to benefit from Level 4 hospitals.
Our people know that these hospitals are where they can access the best services," said Mutula during a development tour in Ilima ward within the County. "The suffering of our people cannot continue and the public wants to access services without exploitation; therefore, we are stepping in to bridge the gap left by SHIF and ensure no resident is denied medical care," he posed.
