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{
    "id": 1092592,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1092592/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 349,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Navakholo, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2543,
        "legal_name": "Emmanuel Wangwe",
        "slug": "emmanuel-wangwe"
    },
    "content": "The Bill intends to amend Section 15 of the NHIF Act by inserting Section 1(b) which shall make the national Government liable as a contributor to the Fund on behalf of the vulnerable who shall be identified by a relevant Government body. This Bill should not be misunderstood as afflicting the private sector insurance market. It does not prohibit taking out insurance premiums from private sector providers. Additionally, the Bill does not prevent persons of means from having enhanced insurance premiums. In fact, the Bill proposes to amend Section 15(d) of the Act by inserting Section 3(a) to allow individuals to make additional voluntary contributions to enhance their benefits. There have been conflicting views out there that this Bill will stop and block the private market players. It is not. In fact, it will enhance and streamline the environment where both private and public insurers like the NHIF are going to play. The Bill also makes provisions for the empanelment of healthcare providers to avoid quacks and substandard healthcare services to Kenyans. In this regard, the Bill empowers the NHIF Board, in consultation with the relevant accredited bodies, to publish in the Gazette, the list of empaneled health providers. It is important that we have a list of qualified healthcare service providers. We should not just have a list, but it should be monitored to ensure that those who are on it are complying with the laid-down rules to the right standard, are not fraudulently collecting money from people and the services they are offering to the people are up to standard. The motivation for this Bill is to tailor and support the NHIF to cater for the financing component as far as access to healthcare by Kenyans is concerned. I am reliably informed that the Departmental Committee on Health was receiving input from several stakeholders, including the CEO of the NHIF. I hope that once the Committee is ready with the report, we will benefit from further insights made by the industry players. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is important to note that as per your own ruling, we could not wait because we are on the move to achieve universal health coverage. As a country, we must join the well developed countries to make sure that we provide universal health coverage to our people. That is why we will go as per your ruling and proceeding to the Second Reading as we await the Departmental Committee on Health to table their report in the House. I had a sitting with the Chair and he was very comfortable that we proceed since most of the issues have been resolved. We are just waiting for them to prepare the report and bring it to the Floor of this House as early as tomorrow, unless something else happens. With those many remarks, I beg to move and ask Hon. Owino, the great, to second. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}