• The NHIF, scheme, they said, was still better and superior to the private medical schemes' governor Arati was rooting for.
• The advert by the County bidding for a private entity to insure its health cadres was issued Thursday.
Image: @SIMBAARATI
Health workers in Kisii on Sunday rejected the move by their Governor, Simba Arati, to 'bulldoze' them to join a private health insurance scheme.
They further raised data safety concerns about the new patient electronic management system rolled out across hospitals in the region.
Through the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, KMPDU, the staff said they are not ready so far to abandon the state-run, National Insurance Fund for private ones.
The NHIF scheme, they said, was still better and superior to the private medical schemes' governor Arati was rooting for.
The advert by the County bidding for a private entity to ensure its health cadres was issued Thursday.
"We know some counties that had ventured into private schemes are already experiencing serious challenges and have resorted to rejoining the NHIF," said Dr Aggrey Orwenyo.
Orwenyo is Secretary General KMPDU Nyanza branch.
He said the union was not keen to auction their members to private health insurance any time soon.
The durable solution to the insurance health scheme woes, he said, lies in timely remittances of their contributions to the scheme by counties.
"There had been some lethargy in effecting the monthly statutory contributions and the payments of the premiums. This is the issue that needs to be addressed, not pushing doctors to shady private entities which may be a source of new troubles for the members," said Orwenyo.
He added: "We object, and we wish to remind Arati that we are always available to be consulted on matters touching on our welfare and rights".
The KMPDU officials accuse the governor of being high-handed and aloof.
"We are concerned that he is taking unilateral decisions on very important things, he should not be ignoring expert advice," said Orwenyo.
On the digital electronic patient management system, Orwenyo called for a re-evaluation.
" It bridges the Privacy and Confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 2019 such that if a patient is treated for syphilis his privacy is no longer guaranteed," the union said.
Every person has the right to be treated with dignity, and respect and have their privacy respected in accordance with the Constitution and this Act.
When this is bridged, it puts the patient in an awkward situation," stated Orwenyo.
The Union official praised the former administration for always addressing issues affecting the health staff in a more organised manner.
"None of this is happening so thus far in this administration. Instead, some of our members they are receiving threats of transfers and sackings," he said.