Kenyans Welcome Health CS Mailu’s Suspension of NHIF Cap on Outpatient Visits

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Cleopa Mailu, has suspended the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cap that limited outpatient visits to only four per year.

In a notice released earlier in the week, NHIF had introduced a list of conditions that many construed as being punitive to beneficiaries.

In the measures that were supposed to take effect form 1^st November, NHIF stated that:

• A card (NHIF) could only be used 4 times a year.
• The bills should not exceed Kshs. 1500 per visit for national scheme members and civil servants from job group A to K.

In addition, patients would be required to carry these documents.

• Copy of NHIF smartcard
• Copy of contributor’s card
• Copy of ID if the patient is a spouse
• Copy of birth certificate if the patient is a baby over 6 months
• Copy of birth notification is patient is a child below 6 months

Irate Kenyans took to social to critique the move noting that the limit was equivalent to self-funding treatment since the total amount was less or equal to what beneficiaries pay in a year (4 times a year would total to Kshs. 6,000).

Here are some reactions from Kenyans on Twitter.

Surely for all the tax we pay NHIF should be able to offer a bit more, no? 1,500/-? Politics aside we’re all a disease away from poverty.

— Larry Asego (@LarryAsego) November 3, 2017

That the CS Health can unilaterally make a decision on NHIF is as bad an accountability problem as the 4 visits/year directive.

— Dr. Ouma Oluga, OGW (@fnoluga) November 4, 2017

New NHIF policies is a middle finger to the poor as it now restricts usage to only 4 times a year, the rich can as many times. Witchcraft pic.twitter.com/Agch1ysWsD

— Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) November 4, 2017

Can NHIF be made optional? You cant force me to pay.. then start dishing out such terms and conditions… NO! Cant do

— Win (They/Them/Win) 🏳️‍🌈 (@Senator_win) November 4, 2017

If NHIF insists on its retrogressive strategies, then let our legislature make it's contribution optional. I can't pay 20k and get 6k of it.

— Dr. Cheruiyot K. Rotich (@CK_rotich) November 4, 2017

NHIF IS TURNING INTO A PYRAMID SCHEME. Blatant theft.

— DUNCAN OMODING' 🇰🇪 (@Omodingson) November 4, 2017

[irp]

Mailu’s move will come as a relief to many who are forced to rely on NHIF to cover medical costs.