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    "id": 678819,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678819/?format=api",
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    "content": "contributing to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) because we know how helpful it is. The second amendment is critical. It is in line with the mandate of the Senate under Article 96 of the Constitution. Article 96 (1) and (2) states as follows:- “(1) The Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments. (2) The Senate participates in the law-making function of Parliament by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties, as provided in Articles 109 to 113.” That takes me to the Fourth Schedule because generally, health is a devolved function. It is true things are not as perfect as they should. In fact, we are far from achieving globally acceptable levels of healthcare. However, devolution has given hope such that when one visits the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital, they do not have to go all the way to do a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). We already have equipment for dialysis and MRI at a more affordable cost than one would pay to transport a patient to Nairobi, host them and feed them. The role of county governments in NHIF is also critical. The constitution of the Board of the NHIF, Section 4, Cap 255 states that the board came into being when county governments were not existing. All the representation here does not touch on county governments. There is one person who was appointed by the President; the Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Health or his representative; the Principal Secretary to the Ministry of National Treasury or his representative; the Principal Secretary of personnel management or his representative; the Director of Medical Services; one nominee of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE); a nominee by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU); One nominee of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT); a nominee by the Kenya National Farmers’ Union (KNFU); two members appointed by one Cabinet Secretary; one from the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) and another nominated by the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) making healthcare providers; another from the Kenya Medical Association (KMA); then NGOs dealing with provision of healthcare services and finally there are healthcare and religious organisations represented. We do not have any representation of the county governments. This Bill seeks to ensure that since the county governments are very serious stakeholders considering the devolution of health services and the roles as stipulated in Schedule 4(2) that allocates duties to county governments, it is mandatory that they have representation. Therefore, these other amendments that is, Section 4, Cap. 255 are meant to ensure that there is representation to the Board by the Council of Governors (CoG). Therefore, we will have the CoG because it is recognised by law. They will nominate one person to that Board. That way, we will take on board the issues of concern to the county governments. The Standing Committee on Health in this House has been bombarded by very many issues of health facilities that lack medical personnel, unpaid medical personnel, delayed payments and absence of medicine. In fact, one of the most recurring issues in The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}