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{
    "id": 1092607,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1092607/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 364,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Ole Sankok",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13166,
        "legal_name": "David Ole Sankok",
        "slug": "david-ole-sankok"
    },
    "content": "The NHIF should also protect the very vulnerable members of our society. For instance, why should persons with disability pay for an insurance Fund? They should be easily exempted. I will bring an amendment in the Committee of the whole House, so that we can exempt persons with disabilities from paying. They are registered and the Government has their data and should pay for them. Even those on the cash transfer programme, we cannot say they are vulnerable and give them Kshs2,000 per month and then expect them to pay hospital bills. Surely, the Government should give them Kshs2,000 per month and pay Kshs500 towards their NHIF contributions. In any case, you can deduct the Kshs500 and give them Kshs1,500, so they are safe. Health is more important than clothing, shelter and food. If they die, they will not eat the money you are giving them. So, let us have an arrangement where we either top-up and make the cash transfer Kshs2,500, so that, Kshs500 is for the NHIF or we deduct it. I am sure they will not complain. The Bill also seeks to seal loopholes of corruption from the hospital side. Some hospitals are overcharging and having bills of patients who have not gone to hospital. In private hospitals, there are cartels who solicit for anybody with a NHIF card. They take it, swipe and charge a false bill and probably pay the owner some little money. For example, they charge Kshs20,000 and pay the owner of the NHIF card Kshs1,000. With the poverty level in Kenya, everybody is willing to accept this. It will also seal loopholes from holders of NHIF cards; the clients themselves. You find patients asking who has an NHIF card, so they can use it in hospital. So, one card is used by 10 members of the society around that area. Anybody who falls sick already knows who has an NHIF card. Sometimes they pay for it because after analysing their sickness as serious, they think they will be charged close to Kshs10,000. So, they pay Kshs2,000 to use someone’s card. It will seal loopholes from that area. It will also seal loopholes of corruption from inspectors. Clause 30(6) says that there is a penalty for inspectors who will inspect the hospital, find that there is a problem with the hospital and there is corruption, but because they have also asked for some kickbacks, give the wrong information. I really support this Bill and I think it is upon this House to hurry up, so that we can attain the universal healthcare and cushion our citizens."
}