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{
    "id": 1095112,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1095112/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Rural, CCU",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Mboni",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13388,
        "legal_name": "David Mwalika Mboni",
        "slug": "david-mwalika-mboni-2"
    },
    "content": "At the outset, I support the Bill because for any country to develop, you need a healthy population. People provide labour, which is a factor of production. The more people are healthy, the higher their productivity and hence economic growth. As a country we need to think about how to provide UHC so that everybody can go to any hospital and get healthcare. Healthcare in this country has become very expensive. There are very few people who can afford good healthcare especially during this time of COVID-19. Every day and week in our rural areas we are burying people because they cannot access good healthcare. The Ksh500 which the NHIF charges is a bit high according to me and especially to the rural poor and urban poor. The disabled and vulnerable groups cannot afford it. Therefore, there is need to review it and charge differently for different categories so that people can afford. The rich may pay slightly more and the poor pay slightly less. The six months which is given when you do your first payments to me is a very long period. Imagine people are sick and you are telling them to start contributing and wait for six months before they start accessing services from the NHIF. This period needs to be reviewed to probably three months or even lower so that at least people can access healthcare. It is important to note that health is a devolved function but it is also important to note that health systems in the counties have failed completely. In fact, there is no medicine in health centres. On Sunday I went to my nearest health centre and people were buying their own dressing materials for their wounds. It is quite wanting. There is no adequate infrastructure, equipment and other essential services. This country should be encouraged to channel some of the funds to the NHIF so that people can access health services in other hospitals outside their counties. To me that is very crucial. The national Government should also come in and subsidise the NHIF so that it can provide health services. Lastly, as has already been stated, many people in the rural areas are not aware of the NHIF facility and what it stands for. I am aware they have offices at county levels. So, it is very important for the NHIF to create awareness on what they do. From the counties do they even go to the sub- county level to create awareness? So, it is important for the NHIF to move down there and create awareness so that people can know what it stands for. With those few remarks, I support. I thank you"
}