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{
"id": 1564832,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564832/?format=api",
"text_counter": 211,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": "They help coordinate UHC registration and we leverage on their extensive network across all the 47 counties. NGAOs are spearheading registration of Kenyans to SHA. They also help us in community sensitization. They are playing a very vital role in educating communities about the transition from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA, addressing the misconceptions and encouraging active participation in the registration process. They help us in monitoring and reporting. Both our regional and county commissioners are tasked with daily monitoring of the registration progress. Working together with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and other healthcare workers, they submit regular reports to ensure the attainment of 12 million households target. Finally, they help us in community engagement. NGAOs are actively engaging with the communities to dispel misinformation and promote understanding on the benefits of UHC, thereby encouraging widespread participation in the registration process. In terms of the engagement strategy, by utilizing the extensive network similar to the previous successful registration of farmers for the subsidized fertiliser programme, SHA was able to quickly reach out to Kenyans even in remote areas and provide them with information on how to register for the programme. Still on the same question, the Senator sought to know the specific roles of the personnel in the registration process and if they are receiving extra incentives. While NGAOs are playing a critical role in the SHA transition through mobilisation and sensitization of registration process, they are not receiving any additional allowances beyond their regular salaries. Their involvement is considered part of their official duties. The Government strategy is to leverage on the extensive network of NGAOs to reach communities at the grassroots level and indicate to them about the benefits of the UHC. Finally, on this Question, the Senator for Kisumu sought clarifications on whether there are established guidelines for the operation of the personnel to ensure vulnerable persons, particular the poor and the elderly, are not coerced or unduly influenced to register for the programme. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir and hon. Senators, to ensure ethical and inclusive environment, the Government has established guidelines to prevent coercion or undue influence particularly among vulnerable populations. Secondly, the registration process is designed to be accessible and user friendly, with various options available to the individuals. The options include USSD code registration, online registration, in-person registration at the designated centres, and use of community health workers. We have also provided for registration of teenage mothers among others. By providing multiple channels, the Government aims to reach all segments of the population, including the elderly and those in remote areas. Additionally, public awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate the public about the benefits of UHC and the importance of timely registration as outlined in the Social Health Insurance Regulations 2023. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1564833,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564833/?format=api",
"text_counter": 212,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": "I want to thank this House, through the Committee on Delegated Legislation, for helping me to articulate the registration process. Those Regulations articulates the registration process as described above. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, moving to Question No.030 that was sought by the Senator for Kisumu on analysis of the financial implications and the benefits of the three Funds under the SHA vis-à-vis the former defunct NHIF, my response is as follows- The SHA is established under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 which this House passed. That Act repealed the National Health Insurance Act No.9 of 1998. The SHA has three Funds, namely---"
},
{
"id": 1564834,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564834/?format=api",
"text_counter": 213,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Cabinet Secretary, sorry for stopping you. Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda did not ask the second Question. Please allow him to ask the Question before you proceed."
},
{
"id": 1564835,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564835/?format=api",
"text_counter": 214,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Question No.030"
},
{
"id": 1564836,
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"text_counter": 215,
"type": "heading",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND INSURANCE PACKAGES OF THE THREE FUNDS UNDER SHA VIS-A-VIS THE DEFUNCT NHIF"
},
{
"id": 1564837,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564837/?format=api",
"text_counter": 216,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to ask Question No.030, which is as follows- (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a comparative analysis of the financial implications and insurance package benefits of the three funds under Social Health Authority (SHA) vis-à-vis the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for individuals in the formal and informal sectors? (b) What is the justification for the mandatory migration of details of NHIF contributors to SHA, and could the Cabinet Secretary outline any measures put in place to ensure that data protection laws were not violated in the process? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the measures put in place to guarantee comprehensive, year-round health coverage for entire households to prevent the depletion of insurance package benefits by individual members? (d) What challenges at NHIF necessitated the transition to SHA, and could the Cabinet Secretary explain the rationale behind the establishment of the three health funds under SHA, namely the Social Health Insurance Fund, the Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund? The last part is key. Let the Cabinet Secretary explain, so that Kenyans can understand."
},
{
"id": 1564838,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564838/?format=api",
"text_counter": 217,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Proceed, hon. Cabinet Secretary."
},
{
"id": 1564839,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564839/?format=api",
"text_counter": 218,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": " Sorry, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I thought I was going to answer both Questions by the Senator, that is, Question No.022 and Question No.030. Let me now answer Question No.030. The SHA is established under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 which this House passed. That Act repealed the National Health Insurance Act No.9 of 1998. The SHA has three Funds, namely, the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1564840,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564840/?format=api",
"text_counter": 219,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": "Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. These funds ensure the full spectrum of healthcare is given attention from the point of prevention, promotion, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, from the onset, allow me to state that in terms of access under Social Health Authority (SHA), Kenyans can access free primary care by just registering as a member. To access benefits under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), one had to register and pay monthly premiums, leaving those who have not paid with no benefits for them. In this regard, accessibility of primary health care to all Kenyans who have registered will address up to 70 per cent of the health burden, under the universal provision of primary health care to ensure that in totality, we attain full universal health coverage. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me make it clear that from Level 2 to Level 4 of the primary health care, all that Kenyans need to do is register. It is free, you can walk to any dispensary, health centre, or sub-county hospital. As long as you are registered with SHA, the Government of Kenya, through a budgetary allocation, will pay for it. We are working around the clock. I am sure Members will ask me and I will answer. We are increasing the refill of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to 100 per cent, so that Kenyans can go to these centres. Once they are treated, that facility will bill the Social Health Authority. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me now to highlight on the specific benefits of the three funds as compared to NHIF, on various benefits categories provided under each fund. I wish start with the primary health care fund. In the primary health care fund, let me pick on the outpatient services. In relation to outpatient services, SHA focuses on preventive, promotive, curative care services and palliative care. Members are not limited and can access health services within the primary care network. There is no need to pre-select your health facility. You do not need to select. You can be in Kisumu, and the next day you are in Kakamega or Garissa and visit any health facility as long as it is registered with SHA. So, there is no need to pre-select health facility because the patients are free to go to any SHA- contracted facility when they fall ill, in any part of our country. Comprehensive services provided include health education, diagnosis, treatment, essential laboratory investigation, basic radiology and chronic disease management. Comparing this with the defunct NHIF, NHIF only focused on curative care. As I have said earlier, this now has changed. We care more about promotive, preventive and rehabilitative care. So, NHIF was only dealing with curative care. Access to services by the former defunct NHIF was limited to a specific choice of a facility, therefore, limiting the members from accessing services in case they fall sick when they are away from their selected facilities or facilities of their home counties, constituents or wards. Services were limited to four visits per card per year in particular facilities, and to basic services such as consultation, laboratory investigation and only minor surgeries. That is what was offered under the NHIF. Undoubtedly the Social Health Authority offers a broader range of outpatient services with a focus on comprehensive care, making it more valuable for managing chronic conditions and preventive care. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1564841,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564841/?format=api",
"text_counter": 220,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I wish to proceed to the optical services. In the respect of optical services, SHA provides a more comprehensive optical care package with a focus on preventive and corrective services, making it more beneficial for the long-term eye health management of our people. The services will now include eye health education, eye examination, basic eye medication and if need be, eye surgical procedures. It is good to note that these services were not offered by the defunct NHIF which had only 20 per cent of our citizens. Let me go to the Social Health Insurance Fund. What do they provide under inpatient category? Under the Social Health Insurance Fund, in relation to the outpatient care, SHA provides more comprehensive inpatient care with a clear structure for different levels of facilities and longer coverage duration. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, critical care services now covered include, among others, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a rate of Kshs28,000 per night, High Dependency Unit (HDU) and palliative inpatient care. The expanded coverage also includes pre- admission evaluation, hospital accommodation, specialist consultation, post-discharge follow-up and has a limit of 180 days per household. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you compare this with the NHIF as the Member has sought, NHIF only catered for a daily repeat charge, negotiated between a healthcare provider and the NHIF. The patient was nowhere found. It was between the NHIF and the healthcare provider. The NHIF also only covered treatment in government, mission and some private hospitals, with a limited base on health categories. So, the number of health facilities you can visit was limited. I would like to proceed to maternity and neonatal care. In respect of the maternity and neonatal care, SHA offers more inclusive maternity care, covering a wide range of services and ensuring after-care for both mother and child. This package is not only limited to maternal care during pregnancy, but covers the whole comprehensive package. Under SHA, maternity and neonatal care has now been expanded. It has an expanded scope of antenatal and postnatal care that entails how we manage complications, including critical care for both mother and the newborn. It is our moral and constitutional duty that as a country, using SHA, we reduce the maternal mortality of both the mother and the newborn. It has also incorporated services that were under the Linda Mama cover and enhanced it from a delivery of Kshs5,000 to a reimbursement of Kshs10,000, which constitutes about 100 per cent increment for normal delivery, and Kshs30,000 for caesarean. I would like to demonstrate using the hon. Members who are members of SHA and have an extra comprehensive insurance cover given by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). For example, the house girl of the Speaker sitting today will go to Pumwani Maternity Hospital, deliver and Kshs30,000 will be paid, and she walk away without paying a cent, even for caesarean. If the Speaker’s wife goes to deliver at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), SHA will pay Kshs30,000 and his other medical cover will pay Kshs170,000 because Aga Khan is Kshs200,000 Pumwani is Kshs30,000. However, the same Speaker can also ask his wife to join his house girl, to go and deliver like the rest of Kenyans in Pumwani and walk out with a baby. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}
]
}