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{
"id": 1618488,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1618488/?format=api",
"text_counter": 4592,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The issue of interns has been addressed, and funds have been set aside to cover their agreements with the Government. The same applies to the issue of registrars, which has existed for long. At least Ksh200 million has been set aside to streamline how registrars apply in all training facilities. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the other area that is quiet is financing. There is a problem with the Social Health Authority (SHA). There is no question about it. Both those who complain that it is not working and those who say it is working have a point. The issue is very straightforward because we have three funds. The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which is a contribution, is going on. People who are admitted get services. However, there is the issue of the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, which are funded by taxpayers. They have never been funded before. As we heard earlier, we have allocated Kshs 13 billion for the Primary Healthcare Fund and Kshs 10 billion for the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund. With this money, if the ministry coordinates with the county government, particularly for the Primary Healthcare Fund, the complaints of outpatients in Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals regarding SHA should be resolved. People should register now because it will work. Another issue in the sector is the availability of drugs and medical equipment. Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) is supported in operations. In the previous Budget, they were allocated Ksh1.5 billion, which should help them to recover from the effects of COVID- 19. The other major issue is the referral system, particularly in Level 6 hospitals. We have realised that their services have an issue of equity. There are regions which have them, and others do not. Yet, these are areas where people need services like cancer care. To that extent, in the policy aspect of the Budget, we are looking at how we can upgrade referral services. In all the referral services that are in existence now, we have allocated Ksh43.3 billion. There are two new additions, namely Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital in Othaya, Nyeri, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, for which we have allocated Ksh 1.3 billion and Ksh 2.8 billion, respectively, in this Budget. The money will help them. Then, there are others that are in the process, and some money has been set aside so that this process can be streamlined. I do not want to go into more details because Members have already discussed it, and we do not have time. I want to say one main thing about health matters. Public health services in this country are, to a large extent, in the domain of the county governments. We have put aside resources for the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Fund. If we do not have proper coordination between the county governments and the National Government, these funds will not serve their purposes. On this issue, I call upon the Health Committee of the Council of Governors to collaborate with the Ministry of Health, the State Department for Medical Services and Public Health, and the Sanitation Departments to establish a process for operationalising these funds. For example, if the Ksh13 billion allocated to the Primary Healthcare Fund is applied properly, it should support the outpatient services of Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals. If we take care of that, the complaints about SHA will go away. Once services are rendered to people at these levels, they will be encouraged to enrol in the SHA services. If there are complaints that they go to hospitals but do not get services, then they will not register. We have the Facility Improvement Fund, which will improve Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals. That is why we have set aside Ksh13.3 billion. We do not see why KEMSA should not be paid if all the levels are properly funded and people get services. Therefore, many structural issues have to go into places money has been put in. I want to request that the Health Committee of the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health collaborate to develop a system for addressing Universal Health Coverage 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."
}