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"content": "Government contribution to counterpart funding, construction of new buildings, completion of on-going works and refurbishment of the existing facilities. If we are to fully modernise our health facilities, so as to bring diagnostic and curative services to levels that will ensure speed, accuracy and cost effectiveness, we need much more than that sum of money. The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) continues to mobilise funding for the health sector, with members contributing in excess of Kshs4 billion annually. The Fund offers the cheapest family-based inpatient cover to Kenyans based on insurance principles. The Fund has, in recent years, remarkably improved its benefits. Over 400 health facilities are accredited by the NHIF. The Fund is currently developing a mechanism to pilot an out-patient cover for its members, which will later be rolled out to all members. The Government will need to provide the cover for those who will not afford to pay under the proposed Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). As I said, we expect this House to support the Ministry when that proposal comes to the House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy to note that hon. Members have, in the past, allocated part of the funds in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to the health sector. This has, no doubt, assisted in expanding the health facility network, thereby increasing access to health services, especially in under-served parts of the nation. However, I request hon. Members to allocate some of the funding to improve the existing hospitals, so as to improve equipment and physical structures such as buildings as we prepare these hospitals to become referral facilities. Development of health infrastructure in the country will need to be undertaken in a rational approach to ensure equity; in order to improve the referral system, my Ministry is committed to have a referral district-level hospital in every constituency. To date, 49 constituencies do not have a Government hospital which, if built, will cost an estimated Kshs35 billion. I would like to recognize the contribution of our development partners who have contributed 65 per cent towards the Ministryâs Development Vote."
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