- The president said the government will pay for those vulnerable and unable to.
- Ruto announced that the ministry of health shall soon roll out fresh registration of all Kenyans.
Image: PCS
Kenyans already enrolled in the National Health Insurance Fund(NHIF) will register afresh to access benefits under the new universal healthcare programme.
President William Ruto announced on Saturday that the Ministry of Health led by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha will soon roll out a countrywide registration exercise for Kenyans to enrol.
The government is transitioning from the NHIF to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that came into effect after President Ruto signed three crucial health Bills recently.
Ruto spoke when he commissioned the tarmacking of Kyogong—Kapkesosio— Sigor—Longisa Road, Chepalungu, Bomet County.
The President said the new registration will ensure that no Kenyan is left out from accessing benefits to be rolled out under the retooled public healthcare system anchored on the Universal healthcare care pillar.
"We are going to have universal health rolled out. The ministry will announce how you shall register afresh,'' President Ruto said.
"We will make sure that Kenyans who seek health care are registered and able to access medical care."
The President spoke as he rallied Kenyans not to be worried about how they are going to transition into the
In the programme, he said, low-income earners will contribute as low as Ksh 300 a month, while the government will pay for those who are unable to.
The Head of State said the new strategy will ensure that no Kenyan is driven into poverty because of high medical bills.
He said SHIF will adopt advanced technology to curb wastage and corruption that hampered access to efficient health care under the NHIF programme.
“We are sealing the loopholes to ensure that public funds under the programme are used to provide quality healthcare to Kenyans,” he said.
The Head of State said the new strategy will ensure that no Kenyan is driven into poverty because of high medical bills.
“We now have a law that establishes the Critical Illness Fund, which will be used to meet the cost of illnesses such as Cancer. No Kenyan will have to sell his property to pay medical bills,” he said.
Under the SHIF, Kenyans are tipped to access quality healthcare in an efficient, affordable and non-discriminatory manner.