Sabina Chege wants all state officials forced to use public hospitals

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege proposes that civil servants, state officials and public officers be compelled to use public health facilities.

The Jubilee Party legislator on Wednesday filed a notice of motion on the proposed order’s implementation in Parliament.

“I would like to give a notice of motion on the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) and a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by public officers,” Chege told the House.

“I am aware that Article 43 (1)(a) of the constitution provides every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, and I am further aware that the government committed to accelerating the attainment of UHC to ensure Kenyans have access and receive essential health services cognizant of the fact that in 2020, the Ministry of Health adopted the Kenya Universal Healthcare Coverage Policy 2020-2030 with the theme ‘Accelerating the attainment of Universal Health Coverage,’ which is currently being implemented through the introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF),” the lawmaker added.

Chege argues that the proposal would improve the quality of services in public hospitals and guarantee sufficient funding for the facilities amid the crisis being experienced with the SHIF rollout.

“Noting that there is a need to increase the quality of care and services provided in the public health sector, concerns that public healthcare services lack adequate funds to guarantee quality healthcare services, and further noting that civil servants, public officers, and state officers are accorded comprehensive medical cover by the respective government agencies, appreciating that the use of comprehensive medical cover by public officers and state officers in public hospitals would guarantee sufficient funding for hospitals, this house, therefore, resolves that the government through the ministry of health implements the Kenya Universal Health Coverage policy 2020-2030 and introduce a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by all civil servants, public officers and state officers in the country who are using medical covers catered for by the government of Kenya,” the nominated MP said.

Chege’s notice comes at a time when private hospitals across the country do not want to continue offering services under SHIF, citing unpaid arrears with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) which SHIF replaced, persistent system glitches, a poor reimbursement model, and government inaction in addressing the challenges.

Additionally, clinical officers went on strike this week protesting being barred from offering services through SHIF and a breach of last year’s return-to-work agreement which comprised a collective bargaining agreement, promotions, comprehensive medical cover and the confirmation of UHC clinical officers and those in short-term contractual employment into permanent and pensionable terms.

The clinical officers have been demanding immediate and unconditional recognition and empanelment of health providers and practitioners licensed by the Clinical Officers Council.

They also want the SHIF board to reinstate pre-authorisation rights to clinical officers, including specialists.