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Tag: Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha

  • Govt to avail resources to support Universal Health Care

    Govt to avail resources to support Universal Health Care

    Government has brought on board relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate and appropriate resources are available to support Universal Health Care (UHC).

    On Monday the Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha chaired a consultative meeting between the Ministry of Health and stakeholders to plan for the upcoming Mashujaa Day celebrations.

    The theme for celebrations is Universal Health Care and the launching of over 100,000 community health promoters.

    The Mashujaa Day celebrations will kick off with the UHC week which will run for a week before Mashujaa Day.

  • Health CS vows to rid KEMSA, NHIF of corruption

    Health CS vows to rid KEMSA, NHIF of corruption

    Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has vowed to get rid of corruption from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

    She says she was determined to deal with strong and influential cartels at KEMSA and the ministry in general, who are working with rogue government officials to stop the ongoing war against graft in the  two top state agencies.

    The CS spoke while in Kitale where she presided over the upgrading of St. John’s Mission Hospital from a level 3 to a level 4 facility and pledged the government’s support to the facility.

    She also presented medical drugs worth Ksh 330,000 from KEMSA to the facility.

    KEMSA is at the centre of a multi-billion shilling scandal that saw the Geneva-based Global Fund cancel a Ksh 3.7 billion tender for treated bed nets after reports that a Chinese firm that met all the tender requirements had been unfairly excluded.

    Meanwhile, the NHIF, has been reeling from allegations that some of its officials are using rogue hospitals to milk it for scandalous deals, including defrauding the fund by offering unnecessary and potentially harmful surgeries to elderly Kenyans.

  • Managed Equipment Services scheme rebranded to National Equipment Support to Counties

    Managed Equipment Services scheme rebranded to National Equipment Support to Counties

    The Council of Governors (COG) and the Ministry of Health have now agreed to scrap the controversial Managed Equipment Services (MES) health scheme.

    The service will now be referred to as National Equipment Support to Counties (NESC) which will be undertaken by the national government.

    This emerged at the end of a two-day consultative meeting in Naivasha where the national government and the counties agreed to streamline health services.

    MES was started in 2015 by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the 47 devolved units to supply and equip two hospitals in every county with high-tech machines to manage chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes.

    The contract entailed leasing of assorted medical equipment for renal, laboratory, ICU, radiology and theatre to at least two hospitals in each of the 47 counties for a seven-year period.

    COG Health Committee Chair Muthomi Njuki lauded the move to scrap MES for NESC noting that the former was shrouded in controversy.

    “We are happy to announce the death of MES which for a long time was shrouded in mystery right from inception and we are ready for change,” he said.

    Njuki who is also the Tharaka Nithi Governor thanked the Ministry of Health for the decision to terminate MES noting that the new system would help improve service delivery to the people.

    On her part, the CS for Health Susan Nakhumicha thanked the governors for giving the Ministry the mandate to execute MES through Intergovernmental Participation Agreements (IPAs).

    “After so much noise we have agreed with the governors on the Managed Equipment Service scheme and we thank them for giving us the opportunity to provide the services,” she said.

    COG chair Ann Waiguru said that all pending issues on Medical Equipment and related Services deployed by the National Government in Counties have been agreed upon by the two levels of Government.

    Reading a joint communique, Waiguru said that the funding for level 1,2 and 3 facilities would be financed through a public financed mechanism and individual capitation.

    “Level 4 and 5 Hospital will be financed through Social Health Insurance while Level 6 will be financed through a critical illness fund and Social Health Insurance,” she said.

     

  • Health CS lauds treasury for releasing funds to NHIF

    Health CS lauds treasury for releasing funds to NHIF

    The National Treasury has released the money it owes the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

    This following a letter written by the Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha to the Treasury requesting that the release of the funds to facilitate the insurer conduct its operations without financial constraints.

    In a tweet, Nakhumicha commended the National Treasury for remitting funds to the NHIF in time to enable settlement of claims by various service providers nationwide.

    “I wish to thank the National Treasury for remitting funds to the NHIF in time to enable settlement of claims by various service providers nationwide.” She said.

    Adding that: “Facilities claims will be settled effective immediately, but I must reiterate that we will ensure prudence and accountability in this exercise.” The CS said.

    The CS said money owed to providers will be settled immediately, but reiterated that her ministry will ensure prudence and accountability in the exercise.

    She said all claims will be thoroughly vetted before settlement to enable them utilise the available resources in the best way possible.

    “ As such, all claims will be thoroughly verified before settlement to enable us utilize the available resources in the best way possible.” She added.

    In the meantime, the CS has requested all facilities to resume services to Kenyans as disbursements continue.

    She said the Ministry remains committed to the pledge of Universal Health Coverage and will ensure that NHIF executes its mandate with utmost objectivity, transparency and excellence, towards the Afya Mashinani promise.