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{
    "id": 1129293,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1129293/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mbito",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13225,
        "legal_name": "Michael Maling'a Mbito",
        "slug": "michael-malinga-mbito"
    },
    "content": "interest in this matter. We had over 35 stakeholders who came and gave their views on this very important Bill. Basically, this Bill looks at ensuring that we have as many Kenyans as possible under the umbrella of NHIF. We are not only talking about being covered by NHIF, but also ensuring that they receive better healthcare from being members of NHIF. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these are the issues that were raised by stakeholders and the Committee took into consideration most of the issues. Some of the issues included and I do not want to repeat what the Deputy Senate Majority has commented on. However, there were more concerns about issues to do with oversight of the board, that is, the roles, powers and functions of the board; transparency and accountability and ensuring that there was public participation and stakeholder engagement in the operations of the fund. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, they also wanted to find out exactly the packages that will be received under the new scheme. Therefore, the stakeholders also wanted to find out the challenges that are related to the accreditation, empanelment and contracting of healthcare service providers. The issues related to the punitive penalties prescribed by the Bill. On 30th November, the Committee concluded its consideration of the Bill and adopted its report and Committee Stage amendments for tabling. Therefore, we try to balance out on the issues we had from the stakeholders. To this extent, a lot of amendments were proposed among which we considered the reconstitution of the board to ensure there is higher representation by the county government and also health workers. Also, the requirement for public participation and stakeholder engagement in the operations of the board and provisions of partial regulation of the board by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) where applicable. We also mandated oversight over the fund by Parliament as an additional layer of accountability of the board. There is also the introduction of an emergency treatment benefits package under the funds among many other issues that we have basically been included in the amendments. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to second."
}