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{
    "id": 678833,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678833/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "A large number of our population lives in the rural areas. Hospitals in the urban areas are not well equipped to the desired level so that the population migrating to urban centres can get proper medical care. According to this Bill, there is need for the Government and every other person who is serious about the population of this country to bring about such a service. The NHIF should be devolved to the level of the village, but there should be some authority used where even if we cannot afford to pay what the NHIF would like to be paid in the premiums, some people can make meagre contribution so that we take care of the people who cannot afford to pay because they are the majority as they are the people who will eventually die due to lack of medication. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, once this Bill is passed, we will get closer to the famous ‘Wanjiku’ that we normally talk about. It is important that when we talk about something like this one that is close to our hearts, close in the sense that every other weekend, we go to attend fundraising to raise money for patients to go to India, Nairobi Hospital and many other hospitals for specialized treatment. We will be saved by this Bill once the NHIF spreads to the people who cannot afford to take themselves to hospitals. It is also important to note that in the recent past, there has been an increase in the number of cancer patients in this country. We have cancer of the breast and many other parts of the body. The dietary systems should be stressed in this Bill so that people get to know the right food to eat. People are ignorant and do not know what to feed on. I, therefore, suggest that the NHIF Bill should be passed as soon as possible so that our people can access the hospitals that we have. The Government should also pay more attention to what is happening in the counties. If they are taking equipment there, they need also to post well trained personnel so that when those machines breakdown, they can be repaired immediately. They should not be transported to Nairobi for repairs due to lack of technicians in the field. Technicians should be trained. They should be deployed to county hospitals. For instance, the moment a fridge or a dialysis machine has a problem; it should be repaired immediately so that we prevent the exodus of people from rural areas to the urban centres. That is what this Bill seeks to address. It is important. Very few people have information. We have the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). Some people do not even know what it is. It is important to ensure that this becomes a serious authority, so that people are informed about the existence of NHIF. It is a remedy to very many medical problems. Without this one, many people will die due to inability to pay hospital bills. Some medical personnel in these hospitals do not allow people to be treated without paying the bills. To ease the bill burden, they should be informed about the NHIF. Therefore, let us facilitate our chiefs, Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and those employed by the county governments to ensure that everybody knows what NHIF stands for and are recruited to be members. It should be a compulsory recruitment drive. It is necessary for them to be safe when the time comes. Majority of them may not know that it is important until they have a problem. There are many people who will get the problem without a solution. If the solution is NHIF, then the Government should ensure that every person joins NHIF. Those who fail to fill NHIF registration forms should be penalized. They should be prosecuted. We lose money in fund raising for hospital bills 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"
}