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{
    "id": 1135162,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1135162/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move: THAT, the Senate Amendments to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 of 2021) be now considered. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Members will recall that this House unanimously passed the National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill, which was driven by the need to give Kenyans universal health coverage (UHC), and because this Bill involved health, which is a devolved function, it was necessary that the Bill be referred to the Senate for their consideration as well. The necessary Communication was made to the Senate and they considered the Bill. In their deliberations, they have also enriched the Bill by making a number of amendments which are contained in our Order Paper from pages 1603 to 1609. The import of most the amendments is to enrich the debate on the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to make it more user friendly and also to ensure that whatever we probably missed out on has been taken care of. They have also come up with a clear definition of an employer. They have worked out who does the accreditation, and also expanded the definition of a healthcare provider to include promotive care. The Senate also made a distinction between funds paid to the Fund and the contributions by employers. Further, they have looked at the representation within the Board and substituted the Medical Professions Oversight Board that we had provided for, with a nominee of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA). This ensures that the medical profession is better represented. They have also gone ahead to recognise that health is devolved and thus expanded the number of people appointed by the Council of Governors (CoG) from one to two. Basically, as you go through the Senate amendments, you realise that they are all geared towards strengthening the Bill. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to highlight Clause 19. We had provided unemployed persons as one of the categories that the Board was to determine their contribution rate, in noting that the Fund is compulsory. It is mandatory for everyone. No one has touched this mandatory clause. It is mandatory for everyone and we had provided for the Board to provide for a special contribution by the unemployed. The Senate has shifted that from Clause 19 to Clause 23 under the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}