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{
    "id": 682220,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/682220/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 39,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) R.K. Nyamai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1979,
        "legal_name": "Rachael Kaki Nyamai",
        "slug": "rachael-kaki-nyamai"
    },
    "content": "The Petitioner alleged that the objective of such referrals was to defraud the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). Hon. Speaker, the Departmental Committee on Health invited various institutions and individuals. It met the Petitioner himself, the hospital management, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB), NHIF and also the Committee conducted a visit to the institution. These were the observations:- That, indeed, there was a problem with the registration of the facility. The facility was registered in different names under several agencies as follows:- From the Registrar of Companies, it is referred to Africare Limited. At the KMPDB, it also had a different name, Africare Limited Hospital and at NHIF it is registered as Medanta Africare. This was a problem because in case of any loss, it was difficult to know who was responsible. NHIF had entered into an agreement with Medanta Africare Limited which is not seen at the Registrar of Companies and it is not recognised at KMPDB. Some referrals, indeed, for patients were being referred to Medanta India. It indicated that they were not warranted because they could have been handled locally. There was no clear relationship between Medanta Kenya and Medanta India. The Committee felt that this name may have been used as a marketing tool. From the list of the staff that was provided, the biggest number of staff are salespeople. From each department, they were required to meet a certain level of income. This was why some of the staff were being fired from the hospital. The high number of police scans that were done also raises concerns because from the Ministry of Health and also from other institutions and individuals that presented information, MRI scans ought to be done on case by case basis. But in the case of the police, it was done on 250 officers on the same day. There was an indication that majority of the patients being referred to India were also doing it on their own request and their bills were being footed by NHIF. Hon. Speaker, the submissions by KMPDB had reported some facts also on this matter. For example, the board had reported that 75 cases had been referred to India but, when Medanta Hospital management brought us the number of people who had been referred, it was 83. So, there was a difference. The medical board submitted that the respondent, Medanta Africare, was directed to pay Kshs250,000 to it as cost of sittings of the preliminary inquiry committee of the board. The board should not charge its clients for carrying out its own responsibilities. The investigations by the Medical Board and its subsequent submissions appeared to have been compromised. Medanta Africare Limited expansion strategy was also questionable, because they were starting so many hospitals at the same time. So, the Committee was concerned about this."
}