Patients who have undergone Kidney transplants are now calling on the government to consider including post-transplant expenses in the list of costs covered by insurance.
Catherine Lichuma who underwent a kidney transplant in March 2021, led her counterparts in asking the government to intervene and have the huge bills facing patients sorted by insurance companies.
Lichuma was speaking during a celebration held by the Mediheal group of hospitals for attaining hundreds of successful kidney transplants in two and a half years.
Mediheal Hospitals Eldoret has conducted more than 200 successful kidney transplants since its opening in 2018.
Lichuma noted that the drugs are expensive and might not be affordable to every Kenyan.
“I appeal to the government to come and help kidney patients because those drugs are very costly but insurance does not cater for them,” she said.
Mediheal’s Consultant nephrologist A.S Murphy called on patients with kidney conditions to seek long-term solutions.
He preferred kidney transplants to regular dialysis sessions.
“When somebody’s kidneys are not working, you replace with an artificial or natural one, same to the eyes, limbs,” he said.
Lichuma attended two dialysis sessions weekly before her transplant.
Murphy added that dialysis only allows the organs to perform a number of functions and not all.
“The complete functions of a kidney are not provided by dialysis so the patient gets a partial benefit,” he added.
Patients with the condition previously petitioned the Senate health committee to compel NHIF to cover post-transplant costs.
The Senate health committee called on NHIF leadership to appear before it to explain how the insurer is paying Sh10,000 per dialysis session.
They were also to explain an additional payment of up to Sh80,000 per month, as well as Sh600,000 for transplant, but doesn’t cater for post-transplant costs.
