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{
    "id": 1096669,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1096669/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "Just for clarification, the current Act only addresses people up to the age of 18 years, but this Bill expands the scope of coverage. So, up to the age of 21, those who are not working and are still in school, will be considered as beneficiaries as part of those benefiting from their family members. For those who are in school and are not earning, the age has been set up to 25 years. So, people of ages of up to 25 years and still in school will not be required to pay their direct share. They will be covered within the family cover, which is an improvement of what is in the current Act. There is also some confusion on that aspect. On another item, it is very rare that I would agree with Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, but he raised an issue that the NHIF needs to focus on. The core mandate of the NHIF is basically to provide insurance cover and not to engage itself in equipping hospitals. I concur and I have consulted on that, and I will bring an amendment to remove that provision on the NHIF getting involved in procurement of equipment and building of hospitals. We do not want a situation where Kenyans lose faith in the Fund because instead of the money being used to cover patients, it is used on other non-core activities. I will bring an amendment to delete the entire Section 34 as it exists, which seeks to allow the NHIF to start equipping hospitals. That is the mandate of the county governments and the national Government.The NHIF should concentrate on provision of insurance cover, and nothing else. Then we will have faith in it. I believe the other comments that some Members made, like Hon. Maanzo saying that it should cover groups, do not work in terms of insurance. I have already mentioned it in compulsory contribution. These are some of the things I thought I needed to highlight by way of response. I would ask Members that we create some time tomorrow, so that we can actualise this dream of ensuring that no Kenyan will have to sell their land or be made poor forever, because of hospital bills. We have seen this especially with the situation of COVID-19 and some of these complicated cases. Let us ensure that we speed up the realisation of this dream of the universal health coverage. The faster we move, the earlier we are going to save our people from being impoverished by the misfortune of getting sick. It should not be the reason for people to suffer forever. So, I thank Members for their contributions. I thank the Committee for its consideration. I urge those who have any amendments to harmonise them between now and tomorrow, so that we can have a smooth sail in the Committee and the Third Reading tomorrow in the afternoon. Then we will take it to the Senate. Hopefully, we will speed it up there so that Kenyans can have this dream of the universal health coverage attained. A key pillar of the Big Four Agenda will be realised as we actualise the journey towards achieving the SDGs under which health is critical. Remember, the whole point of the SDGs is that nobody should be left behind. No poor Kenyan should be left behind in the provision of affordable and quality health which is what this Bill is hoping to achieve. With those few remarks, I beg to reply."
}