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{
    "id": 90638,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/90638/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 272,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Anyangâ-Nyongâo",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Medical Services",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Let me handle hon. Chanzuâs questions first because they are fresh in my mind. The core business of the NHIF is health insurance, but also it is known by such bodies worldwide, and even in the NHIF Act, that it happens to a lot of parastatals that when they have surplus funds, they can invest provided that such investments are approved by the Treasury. My concern, however, is to begin from where we started after the NHIF had made those investments before I became the Minister for Medical Services. Those are now faitaccompli. What I want now is for the NHIF to use its funds for its core business, which is the health insurance. If it is investing, it should invest in health- care rather than in other things. That is one of the reasons why I have asked the IFC to do a management audit of the NHIF. So, I am chewing gum and walking at the same time. I want to make sure that the NHIF increases its contributions, but at the same time, make sure that there is management capacity and proper use of resources through this management audit that we are doing. We are hoping that, that management audit will help us see the loopholes that may exist in NHIF. I must say that over the last five to six years, the NHIF has made tremendous steps towards improving itself. At the moment, it has a biometric method of collecting funds through contributions. If you go to the NHIF, you now have a card which is biometric. The data is very well kept and, therefore, they are up to date in membership, contributions and even disbursements to hospitals. There is very little delay in hospitals getting their funds from the NHIF. That efficiency gain has been arrived at through the use of ICT and better management. I would like them to do better. That is why I have sent in the IFC to do that management audit. It is, therefore, true that we need to constantly improve in performance and not think that improvement in performance can be absolute. That you can arrive at the moment you are absolutely perfect and cannot be questioned in anything. These are institutions which are growing, getting more and more responsibilities every day and, therefore, performance improvement must be a constant undertaking. Hon. Lessonet has raised very pertinent questions. One has to do with whether hospitals, even if people go there with insurance, can deliver services. I have said in this House over and over again that we need to improve infrastructure in these hospitals. At the moment, the Ministry of Medical Services requires at least Kshs540 billion to bring all our hospitals to modern level. I do not think we will get that Kshs540 billion instantaneously. That is why we are doing it gradually using more donor funds than the Exchequer funds. The Exchequer only gives us less than Kshs1 billion annually for the Development Vote, which is very little. When I said that we are improving about 63 hospitals in Kenya today, scattered all over, the criteria is the following:- I said that we are improving about 63 hospitals in Kenya today, scattered all over the country and the criteria is as follows; one, donors offer. I know the problems in Meru District Hospital. They ask: Can you give us a proposal to help you? We give proposals. We also approach donors; I went to Eldama Ravine. Its condition is terrible. We do proposals, and we get support. So, it is work in progress, and if hon. Lessonet has a rich Saudi Arabian who can help us, I am willing to play ball, so that we can improve Eldama Ravine District Hospital. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I mentioned a few hospitals, not because those are all. Those are just samples I was mentioning from my head but there are quite a number of others, which I can mention. At the end of the month, I am going to Kitale with the Prime Minister to open a brand new eye unit at the Kitale District Hospital, which was set up with money given to us by the Canadians; eye problems in that part of the world are enormous. So, I will definitely work with Members of Parliament and also tap from their own ingenuity on how we can access resources to improve infrastructure in our hospitals. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a hon. Member raised the question of the legality of what we are doing. We are doing what we are doing as per the powers given to us by an Act of Parliament, which empowers the NHIF to do what it is doing. If somebody has a question as to whether it is legal or not, I made a very good proposal. Let us re-look at the Act here in Parliament, and then I can be advised accordingly. In any case, this is the House which makes laws, and not me. I am quite prepared."
}

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