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Tag: Health bills

  • MPs to support passage of NHIF bills

    MPs to support passage of NHIF bills

    Members of Parliament have vowed to rally behind Cabinet Secretary for Health Nakhumicha S. Wafula in her quest of actualising implementation of Universal Health Coverage set for launch on October 20.

    Speaking over the weekend in Nyanza during President William Ruto’s working tour,the lawmakers across the political devide said they will rally behind Nakhumicha in her plans to improve health care in the country by approval of the bills currently on the floor of both houses.

    Uriri MP Mark Nyamita said they will continue vouching for execution of government agenda which impacts positively to the wellbeing of area locals

    “Our association with President Ruto’s administration remains unwavering as it has paid off heavily so far.There are those who are reading much into our friendship but that won’t stop us from meeting the Head of State and telling him issues affecting our people. Even at bunge,we will do our best in pushing for legislation which aims to assist CS Nakhumicha in her pursuit of ensuring UHC goes through as envisioned in Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)” he stated

    President Ruto affirmed his commitment of laying in place programs and mechanisms geared towards delivering of
    access to affordable health care which proved futile during the previous regime due to reasons he attribute to handshake politics.

    He noted that Migori has about 2,670 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), whom the government has provided with, about Sh52 million worth of equipment.

    “Every year, we will be setting aside Sh54 million for purposes of their payment.These CHPs are the agents that will transform our health delivery from being curative to being promotive and being preventive. That is our commitment and mission,” Ruto said.

    The Digital Health Bill, 2023 has undergone the second reading in the National Assembly. If approved by the House, the legislation will provide for a framework for provision of digital health services, establish a comprehensive integrated digital health information system, data governance and protection of personal health information, service delivery through digital health interventions, e-waste disposal, and health tourism.

    The Bill focuses on the establishment of the Digital Health Agency, which is poised to become a central authority for overseeing and coordinating digital health initiatives across the nation.

    With a dedicated agency in place, the Government aims to streamline and enhance the delivery of digital health services.

    If passed into law, it has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, protect patient data, and promote the responsible use of technology in the medical field.

    The bill is part of four draft bills proposed to replace the NHIF Act. Social Health Insurance Bill 2023, Primary Healthcare Bill, 2023, and Facility Improvement Financing Bill, 2023 are the other 3 bills.

    Appearing before Parliament last week during question and answer session, the CS continued with her rallying call to legislators to fast-track approval of laws expected to provide a framework for improved health outcomes and financial protection of families in fidelity to the State’s solemn duty to guarantee the health and welfare of all her citizens.

    “Let’s all support the passage of these fundamental bills. I agree with those who have raised a bit of concerns that we should have more time for consultation but generally it’s been an all inclusive affair with views of majority of stakeholders having been captured.These bills have been developed from existing documentation and the existing documentation has been worked on together with other entities like CoG,” she affirmed

    She noted that UHC in previous administrations did not succed because it was not pegged on law that provides the basis for regulating the quality of care and the institutional basis for work on health care quality

  • Two health bills tabled in Parliament

    Two health bills tabled in Parliament

    Two crucial bills meant to support the government’s UHC plan by enhancing healthcare access and quality for all citizens have been tabled in Parliament.

    The Primary Health Care and Facilities Improvement Bills, 2023 underwent the first reading Tuesday afternoon.

    The Primary Health Care Bill 2023 establishes a framework for delivering, accessing, and managing primary health care.

    The Bill also proposes the establishment of a Primary Healthcare Advisory Council at the National Government that advises the national government and county governments on implementation of primary healthcare services.

    It also establishes the County Primary Health Care Advisory Committees at the county level that is tasked to ensure the effective implementation of primary healthcare through resource mobilization, advocacy and the planning and development of primary healthcare service delivery.

    Financing

    The Facilities Improvement Bill bill seeks to provide for public health facility improvement financing and management and administration of the improvement financing and for connected purposes.

    The justification for the Bill is found in section 109(2)(b) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, which stipulates that the County Treasury for each county government shall ensure that all money raised or received by or on behalf of the county government is paid into the County Revenue Fund, except money that may, in accordance with other legislation, this Act, or County legislation, be retained by the county government entity that received it for the purposes of defraying its expenses.

    The Bill aims to ring-fence money generated in health facilities, ensuring a predictable, regular, and steady source of funding for health facility operations in the counties.

    This is intended to guarantee that funds are utilized for the improvement of patient care at individual health facilities, preventing them from being absorbed into county coffers.

    The approach is expected to stimulate increased revenue collection by health facilities, contributing to the realization of the Universal Health Coverage target of augmenting expenditure on healthcare infrastructure throughout the country.

    The government has initiated four new health bills that it says will revolutionise healthcare delivery.

     

     

  • Governors meet Health CS over new bills, query fate of existing FIF bill

    Governors meet Health CS over new bills, query fate of existing FIF bill

    The National Government and the Council of Governors (COG) are currently meeting in Nairobi to discuss the four health bills that were approved recently by the Cabinet.

    According to the government, the Primary Health Care Bill, 2023; The Digital Health Bill, 2023; The Facility Improvement Financing Bill, 2023; and The Social Health Insurance Bill, 2023 seek to accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as set out under Kenya Kwanza’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

    The crucial bills that the Cabinet says will usher in a paradigm in the legal and institutional framework for healthcare in Kenya will be tabled in Parliament once lawmakers resume from recess.

    If they okay them, one of the radical changes is the scrapping of the current National Health Insurance Fund which will be replaced by three funds namely the Primary Healthcare Fund; Social Health Insurance Fund; and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

    According to Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, the meeting with the county bosses who are key stakeholders in the health sector is to appraise them on the progress of the bills and seek their input as well.

    The governors who met the health top officials including Ag Health Director General  Patrick Amoth are Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki who is also the chair of the health committee of COG,  Vihiga Governor Wilber Otichilo, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani among others.

    However, the governors through their health committee chair are raising concerns over the new Facility Improvement Fund 2023 despite 30 counties having passed a similar bill.

    Muthoki Njuki says the bill seeks to claw back on the gains of devolution especially in the health sector that has been devolved.

    He says that counties spent resources to ensure their own FIF bill 2023 and queried what will happen to the said bills if the proposed one supersedes theirs.

    Only 17 counties have not passed the bill that allows health facilities to manage the funds they generate. They have until December 2023 to do so.

    The government insists the new bill will create a robust and efficient healthcare infrastructure.

    “By facilitating financing mechanisms to upgrade and expand healthcare facilities, this legislation ensures that quality care is within reach for all citizens, no matter their geographical location,” the health CS said upon passing of the bills by Cabinet which she termed a game changer.