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{
"id": 1338167,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1338167/?format=api",
"text_counter": 244,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Endebess, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose",
"speaker": null,
"content": "recognises that an Act of Parliament may provide for the establishment of other funds by counties and the management of those funds, respectively. The Bill, therefore, meets this criterion as it makes provision for public health facility improvement financing and details how the same will be retained, managed and administered to ensure proper utilisation of funds. The Bill is aligned with the Health Act, No.21 of 2017, the country's primary law on health matters. Section 86(1)(c) of the Health Act, 2017 provides that the Ministry of Health shall ensure progressive financial access to universal health coverage through various measures, including developing policies and strategies that ensure the realisation of universal health coverage. The Bill will, therefore, stimulate increased revenue collection by public health facilities, significantly contributing to the realisation of the Universal Health Coverage target of augmenting expenditure on healthcare infrastructure throughout the country. The Bill is aligned with the Public Finance Management Act, No.18 of 2012, the country's primary law on public finance matters. Section 109(2)(b) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 provides that all money is to be paid into the County Revenue Fund except money that may, in accordance with other legislation, the Act or county legislation, be retained by a county government entity which received it to defray its expenses. The Bill aims to ring-fence money that is generated by public health facilities, ensuring a predictable, regular, and steady source of funding for public health facility operations in counties. This will guarantee that funds are utilised to improve patient care at the respective public health facilities. In doing this, the Bill facilitates the realisation of Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which not only guarantees the right to quality and affordable healthcare, but also recognises the role of the Government in removing barriers to access to quality and affordable healthcare. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Bill directly responds to the legal intervention proposed by the Departmental Committee on Health in the 12th Parliament in its Exit Report dated 8th June 2022. In the Report, the Committee recommended that the Departmental Committee on Health in the 13th Parliament establishes a Facility Improvement Fund for county public health facilities to support the devolved health function. Public health facilities previously retained and managed the monies they generated. However, the enactment of the Public Finance Management Act, No.18 of 2012, took away the financial autonomy of public health facilities to retain, bank and spend revenues collected from user fees. Section 109 of the Public Finance Management Act, No.18 of 2012, provides that all revenue collected by all county government entities is submitted to the County Revenue Fund, and then those entities will request funds from the County Revenue Fund. County health facilities now draw funds generated through cash, insurance schemes and grants from the County Revenue Fund. This has occasioned numerous bureaucracies and limited funding for public health facilities as they are usually allocated less money than what they remitted, making them struggle to meet their operation and maintenance costs, adversely affecting their service delivery. Some counties, including Kakamega, Isiolo, Mombasa and Elgeyo Marakwet, noting the challenges they have faced, have established Facilities Improvement Funds, allowing their public health facilities to manage the funds they generate through Health Services Management Committees. Counties that have not established such a fund continue to face several key challenges, including demotivated health workers, delays in service delivery due to procedural difficulties in procuring essential supplies and poor accountability for money generated in public health facilities. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Bill gives county governments control over the revenue generated within their health facilities, allowing for enhanced localised decision-making. County governments will now be able to plan and implement long-term healthcare projects 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."
}