NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Private hospitals will continue offering services to National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) card holders following a deal reached with the Ministry of health.
According to the Fund’s board chairman Lewis Nguyai, this follows consultations that extended the contracts’ deadline to March 31.
“We now have expanded the space for sufficient consultation so that we can allow our service providers consult with suppliers and people of their fraternity. We have created work teams that will engage with each other so that we can come to a good agreement and understanding, ” he said.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe stated that after this, new contracts which will be implemented from July 1, 2022, will be signed.
He further confirmed that the old contracts will remain effective for the next five months.
He also pointed out that during this period, contentious issues will be ironed out.
Kenya Association of Private Hospitals Chairman Abdi Mohammed had stated that the current terms of engagement do not favor hospitals and thus the need for them to boycott the fund.
“Government alone cannot provide health services. NHIF has to sustainable, and the private sector has to be sustainable. From tomorrow we will continue with the old contracts, and we will start the journey of engagement for the benefit of Kenyans, “he said.
The meeting between Ministry of Health, NHIF and Kenya Association of Private hospitals was called after reports had emerged that private hospitals would deny NHIF card bearers services starting Monday, January 31.
