Ugenya MP Ochieng' faults CS Nakhumicha for mixed messaging on SHIF

Ugenya Member of Parliament (MP) David Ochieng has faulted Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha for mixed messaging regarding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) implementation. 

Speaking in a panel interview on Daybreak, he mentioned that SHIF should be centered on access to health care, and not on money.

“I want to fault the minister for mixed messaging. Kenyans do not know where this whole thing stands,” he said.

“It's not about money. It's about access to health care. Kenyans must be walked through and walked with as we seek these reforms.”

Ochieng’ mentioned that he wholeheartedly supports the SHIF program but insisted on it being implemented correctly.

“The biggest problem we have as a country is sequencing. We have very good ideas but want to reach the end before starting the whole thing,” he stated.

“I personally wholeheartedly support the idea of social health care. It's the right thing to do. It's the way to go. But it's important to get it right from the word go."

He added he would want the SHIF program implemented with minimal hitches.

“We have a system however faulty called NHIF. We have not stopped using it. I want to request the minister, the PS, and everyone concerned with this that it may be done in the right manner,” Ochieng’ stated.

The MP voiced that there are Kenyans who still do not understand what the program is all about and its benefits.

He opined that at this stage the government and other stakeholders should be carrying out massive public awareness to allow more Kenyans to register for them to begin the contributions.

“Kenyans up to now have not known what are the benefits. so I would imagine the next three or four months would be a situation where we are in a public awareness blitz everywhere. The county government is involved, and MPs and MCAS are involved,” he stated.

“Everyone can tell Kenyans that this very good new social health system has the following advantages, prepare to join it. We take three, four months we check how many have registered then we can say the end of June or July, because we have these numbers and we think this is viable we can start contributions.”