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{
    "id": 1294463,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1294463/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "If they are there, we are willing to listen to them and perhaps have a discussion with them. Every other Kenyan will be covered by the provisions of this Bill. What we are not willing to do – and I plead with you, my colleagues – is to create special groups for any kind of Kenyans. I thought we all went to the campaigns and promised people to find ways to make life bearable for every Kenyan. Therefore, it is on that platform that we are moving and proposing to the House, that we move and change the administrative inefficiencies and lack of transparency, that have hindered the funds efficiency and effectiveness by creating this new body. Madam Temporary Speaker, Part One of the Bill provides the purpose and objects, creating this social health authority that will ensure standards. Sen. Sifuna, I do not know if you know this; that if you went with your NHIF card for a scan at Mbagathi Hospital, there are clinics within the same proximity that will charge you double the amount for that same scan? Chances are that because of these same inefficiencies that I am talking about, those private hospitals will be paid faster than Mbagathi Level 5 Hospital. This is despite the fact that they are earning more. Mbagathi Level 5 may wait even up to one year, before NHIF compensates them. That is why we are setting up this Social Health Authority to standardize. It will now be impossible to charge extra for the same procedure, whether you do it in a private hospital or a hospital of a similar standard. The Social Health Authority will not give the approval for anything to be charged extra. This is because we are making one large contribution as a country, to ensure that we carry and share the burden. Lastly, Madam Temporary Speaker, Part Five of the Bill is extremely important. I have personally treated a relative when they faced chronic illness. I know how many other families have to carry that burden. I know how difficult it is for those in retirement or for any other reason, when you are faced with critical or emergency chronic diseases. The previous provisions of NHIF did not provide mechanisms through which such emergencies could be created. Part Five of the Bill now creates a fund. That as long as all Kenyans are covered under this provision, this pool of resources will be deployed to handle emergencies; and ensure that a family does not get to a point where they sell everything and eventually lose out. Sometimes even after selling all those things, there is no guarantee that your relative will survive that particular disease. This fund is being created to handle such situations. Therefore, there are many other very productive provisions on Part Six on the claims management and so on. I wish to state that this Bill is an instrument for attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC). I urge Hon. Senators to support this important Bill, whose passage will ensure accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all Kenyans. As long as you are Kenyan, you are part and parcel of those that are covered under this Bill. Do not accept to be misled by any other person trying to claim otherwise. With those many remarks, I beg to move and request the Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Sen. Mandago, to second."
}