• NHIF bagged the Innovation, ICT, and Knowledge Management award.
• It also won in the customer orientation and marketing category.
Image: FILE
The National Health Insurance Fund bagged awards at the 2022 Company of the Year awards.
The Kenya Institute of Management has been holding the COYA Awards for the last 18 years.
COYA awards recognise organisations that have adopted the Organisational Performance Index (OPI) Business Excellence framework.
NHIF has undergone reforms since the implementation of the 2018 Health Financing Reforms Expert Panel.
HEFREP came up with 55 recommendations after extensive consultations with stakeholders and the public in all 47 counties.
NHIF CEO Peter Kamunyo said the reforms were at various stages of implementation to transform the fund into a sustainable institution.
The amendment of the NHIF Act took centre stage in the reforms process with amendments like enforcement of mandatory contributions to all Kenyans, identifying and supporting the poor and vulnerable members of society and cushioning the fund against abuse either from fraudulent activities or high rates of default by contributors.
The NHIF (Amendment) Act 2022 is critical in implementing UHC as it provides a legal framework that anchors other reforms.
Kamunyo said the reform efforts recognised during the 2022 COYA awards align with the reforms NHIF has been implementing.
The reforms include implementing biometric registration and identification of all beneficiaries, adopting electronic claims processing, and expanding the healthcare service providers network.
NHIF bagged the Innovation, ICT, and Knowledge Management award.
It also won in the customer orientation and marketing category. The award was in line with reforms in which the fund implemented customer self-care platforms to enable members to monitor their accounts on the frequency of usage of the principal account, query and check on their statements and receive an SMS notification on use at the point of service.
These perspectives continue to ensure that initiatives around the various anti-fraud programmes are adhered to, which reduces fraud losses.
The NHIF's customer orientation and marketing category included upgrading the Customer Experience Centre to a fully operational call centre.
The fund receives more than 3,000 calls, 10,000 emails and 50,000 short messages on any given day.
NHIF has also increased accessibility and enhanced digital and physical communications channels with 70 branches, 33 satellite officers and a presence in all Huduma centres countrywide.
The fund has worked with communities over the years by ensuring tailor-made benefit packages that meet the population's medical needs and are alive to disease patterns and emerging health needs.
NHIF has 15.6 million members registered, each with approximately three dependents.
NHIF was also the 2nd runner-up winner of the COYA awards in 2022.
The fund bagged the Special Judges' Award for the most improved and consistent company in pursuit of excellence