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{
    "id": 354911,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/354911/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 374,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Anami",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2773,
        "legal_name": "Lisamula Silverse Anami",
        "slug": "lisamula-silverse-anami"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, Sir, my name is Silverse Anami. I am the hon. Member for Shinyalu. I rise to support the Motion, but first allow me to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. I also want to thank you for your sensitivity and management of the proceedings in the House. This is a very important Motion. Usually the people who default in these NHIF payments are people who have challenges as a result of poverty. This is something they do not choose for themselves. As a result, we have instances where they are not only penalized, but they are denied services. I have experienced in private hospitals, and even to an extent in public hospitals, where patients are denied services. Sometimes when they are given those services, they are not discharged. We have this terminologies, “discharge- in” and “discharge-out”. The former means that the patient has been discharged, but he will not be allowed to go home. The patient is forced to stay in hospital. In that instance, the patient is denied access to facilities like water and beddings. This is dehumanizing. It is important that we take this Motion seriously. The authorities responsible for managing this Fund should take interest in how the administration of this fund is conducted in hospitals. I would like to suggest that the NHIF should have agents within the hospitals to ensure that people are benefitting from the opportunities provided by this Fund. We also have situations where money provided in that Fund is used by people who do not deserve it. It is very important that coastal facilities that benefit from that Fund are able to account for the money publicly. That way, we will be able to know how many people have benefited from NHIF in the various medical facilities. Hon. Speaker, the productivity of a nation like Kenya depends on the physical, mental and even spiritual health of its citizens. So, it is important that we improve the Government. We demand from the Government authorities responsible that accountability for that Fund is made public. The accountability should be done frequently, so that people can know what is happening. Here, I am underlining the service of sensitizing the public on the availability of the Fund. Hon. Speaker, Sir, when some of the defaulters are discharged, and that is in quotes, they are asked to leave their identity cards behind. When they leave their identity cards behind, they do not access other services. Everyone needs his or her identity card every time. When you go to the bank, you need your identity card. When you want to enter into an agreement or apply for a loan, you need an identity card. But when hospital authorities retain identity cards belonging to patients, how do they expect the patient to access other services?"
}