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{
    "id": 1520947,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1520947/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa): Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to start with the Question from Sen. Omtatah, regarding the Universal Health Care (UHC) premiums. Previously under National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), as you remember, it was tax funded but it was capturing the formal sector with only 20 per cent of the population under this health insurance. So, when we talk about leaving no on behind, NHIF was not living up to it because we were not able to cover each and every Kenyan in regards to heath service delivery. However, SHA, is improved and we are trying to ensure that all Kenyans are on board and that all their health needs are addressed. Part of it is using social health financing, ensuring that 2.75 per cent of the amount is being deducted for contribution into Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that we are leaving no one behind but equally, you take note that the indigence will be covered by the government, that is, the people who are unable or are not capacitated well to cover or to pay the premiums. As the Government, we will be able to support in their health insurance coverage. I think this is a great step from the 20 per cent and ensuring that all are being covered. You can see that we have now increased and registration up, almost 3 times the population that was covered previously. There is great progress, as you said Sen. Sifuna. There is great progress with the number of people that have been registered and the number of people that can access primary health care. We have up to three times more that can access. Then when it comes to registration and being able to access services in higher level of care, we are looking to ensure that there is improved contribution and ultimately all Kenyans will be able to access health care. I believe that this a game changer where we will have Kenyans not selling their property in order to access health. Additionally, there are good stories out there and I can attest and maybe next time we can have a documentation and reports of more than 500,000 being able to access these services and tabulate how much contribution did they The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}