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{
    "id": 1092143,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1092143/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 188,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mohamed Mohamud",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13506,
        "legal_name": "Mohamud Sheikh Mohammed",
        "slug": "mohamud-sheikh-mohammed"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support the National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 of 2021) that we considered in the Departmental Committee on Health. I support it for various reasons, some of which are quite compelling because public health insurance is the cornerstone of society and the health of communities across the world. It is not a new thing for us. It has been here for many years, particularly the NHIF. It used to be called the National Hospital Insurance Fund, but is currently called the National Health Insurance Fund. Health is a very important point that is not just about the hospitals. It is about healthcare. It is about looking at the health of our community wholesomely, be it physiotherapy, radiotherapy, direct medical intervention, psychotherapy, psychology, medical admissions in hospitals and many other things that are outside the hospital vicinity that could be utilised in various institutions that specialise in those particular areas. Therefore, that is the main reason why it carries the term health. That gives a prerogative that can stand across various disciplines within the health service or the health of the individual. The Bill went through public participation that did not necessarily involve individuals who were coming to contribute to why the amendment Bill was necessary. It was also about the shoe- wearer. The shoe-wearer could be the individuals, the particular patient that utilises the NHIF, the doctor that uses it to ensure that patients are covered or the hospital that will ensure that it has delivered the service and is paid accordingly. Therefore, we have engaged those public and private individuals to come and tell us that. I joined the NHIF on 24th March 1993. That is a long time ago. That is what my card shows. That means that the NHIF has been providing services for many years, even way before me. As days go by, change is very necessary. Quality healthcare is a universal human right for one and all. It is an important thing that is required by everybody across the world. It is a fundamental human right to access healthcare services. Therefore, for us to get there, there has to be a funding body that pools funds to be utilised by individuals that require that service. The particular reason as to why we are making these amendments is because equitable health services must be obtained by everybody, if we are to look after the human rights of everyone. The poor and the rich should be able to access that pool of funds, so that they can utilise it at the time, hour and period of need for themselves and their loved ones. Therefore, unless we have those checks and balances that are put in place to ensure that this is universally provided to the poor and the rich equitably, we will not be able to achieve that universal human right that I began my statement with. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the point that we really looked at and dug into - and I really argued it in my discussions and debates when we were processing these amendments - is that there are public workers who work in public and Government institutions and private workers The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}