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{
    "id": 1294466,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1294466/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 270,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13577,
        "legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
        "slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker and Senate Majority Leader. First and foremost, I wish to second this Bill. The Bill has been well elaborated by the Senate Majority Leader. However, allow me in my seconding, to make a few remarks and concerns that have been raised. I think it is because of the information that probably has not gone out to the public and citizens of this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, this Bill seeks to ensure that every Kenyan in any part of this country is able to access healthcare. As the Government strives to roll out UHC, we must create a situation that enables that UHC to be rolled out, by making sure that all the functional attendant facilities that go with the rolling out of UHC are in place. This Bill seeks first to make sure that there is sufficient funding for us to roll out UHC and also create an enabling environment in the management of those funds. Thirdly, this Bill seeks to make sure no Kenyan is excluded from accessing health services in any public institution. We wish to communicate to the public and generally all of us, that the difference between the new Bill, the new Authority and the new social health insurance that will be established; is that every Kenyan will access health services under the package that has been prepared. Madam Temporary Speaker, realizing that most Kenyans when diagnosed with chronic diseases that are costly which the private insurance companies and even the National Insurance Health Fund (NHIF) could not cover; this Bill ensures that from the Social Health Insurance Fund, access is guaranteed, where a citizen who exhausts their social insurance cover will graduate to the next level provided for under the chronic illness fund. Once a Kenyan is registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund, they automatically qualify to access treatment for chronic diseases under the chronic fund without being asked to top up any funds. Those who are asking why we do not have enhancements in this Bill is because, the enhancements we had in the past were creating classes of citizens in this country; where those who were earning, had an income and were paid by the Government could enhance the services they are going to access by paying additional premium. The Social Health Insurance Fund is making sure that with no additional premiums, you are able to access the health services that you require. I assure those who are retired, whether in public service or private sector or are elderly, that for the first time, they will have healthcare that will take care of them until hapo kwa mambo nimatatu, hiyo ya tatu – ukisafiri. As a Kenyan citizen, and for the first time, you are guaranteed that once you are a contributor and are registered, you will access primary healthcare facilities and should you be diagnosed with any disease that is lifelong, the Chronic Health Fund will take care of that and will make sure you receive treatment throughout the period when you need to access treatment."
}