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{
    "id": 141080,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/141080/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Nyeri, Embu, Garissa, Nakuru, Kakamega and Nyanza Provincial General Hospitals and Kisii, Thika, Meru and Machakos District General Hospitals more powers to manage their affairs as referral facilities. This list may be added to as time goes on. My Ministry, together with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and other stakeholders, have initiated the process of reviewing the health policy framework of 1994 and the various health-related Acts so as to address emerging issues and strengthen regulations and standards in the health sector. My Ministry will also train faith health facilities committees and boards to empower them to become the public watchdogs for funds and commodities issued to these institutions, once they are gazetted. In addition, my Ministry is also working with other arms of the Government and other stakeholders to strengthen the management of human resources in health, including the recruitment of additional staff and reviewing the terms and conditions of the existing staff to improve their retention. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in order to address the challenges of the commodity management in the country, the Ministry of Medical Services will implement the recommendations of a recent task force on the KEMSA. Already, all procurement of drugs is being done by the KEMSA. However, in order to implement these recommendations, it is necessary to build the capacity of the KEMSA and its management systems, including providing adequate funding. It is vital, therefore, that the capitalization of the KEMSA be undertaken as an urgent matter. It is, therefore, very unfortunate that this has not been catered for in the current financial year, although it was a prominent recommendation in the task force report. Further, the KEMSA does not currently have the resources to employ and retain qualified manpower to ensure commercialization. Capacity will also be built in hospitals to facilitate a smooth distribution network. The health financing system in Kenya is characterized by the following:- 1. high out of pocket expenditure by households; 2. wide inequality in access to services with major geographic and income-based variations in access to and utilization of services; 3. shortages in equitable distribution of human resources; 4. low levels of public spending, that is, US$13 per capita against World Health Organisation (WHO) standard of US$34 per capita; and, 5. low levels of predictability of donor funds. The Ministry of Medical Services, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and other stakeholders are working together to develop a healthcare financing strategy that ensures access to affordable and quality healthcare for all Kenyans. Reforms are already underway to turn the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) into a National Health Insurance Fund. This will guarantee an increased number of people access healthcare through health insurance, not just in the formal sector, but in the informal sector as well. It will also guarantee access to healthcare by the poor. A Cabinet Memorandum to this effect is currently being discussed in Government and it will come to Parliament once the Government passes it. I hope Members of Parliament will give us support in reforming the NHIF Act so that we establish a National Health Insurance Fund. Mr. Speaker, Sir, a memorandum of understanding has already been concluded between the Ministry and the faith-based organizations. My Ministry will continue"
}