{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=139647","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=139645","results":[{"id":1412871,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412871/?format=json","text_counter":297,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Ms. Susan Nakhumicha)"},{"id":1412872,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412872/?format=json","text_counter":298,"type":"heading","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":":"},{"id":1412873,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412873/?format=json","text_counter":299,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, as a woman, I understand Hon. Esther Passaris’s passion on this issue. However, I want to confirm that we are guided by the Constitution as the Ministry. Thankfully, we are speaking in the House that is responsible for making laws. Abortion is currently not allowed in Kenya unless it is determined by a medical practitioner that the lives of the mother and the child are at risk. If that law is amended, the Ministry will be able to take action on that basis. I want to thank Hon. Passaris and invite her to my office so that we can have deeper conversations on the same. Thank you, Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members."},{"id":1412874,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412874/?format=json","text_counter":300,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Last on this is Hon. Wamuchomba, Member for Githunguri."},{"id":1412875,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412875/?format=json","text_counter":301,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"QPN 010/2024"},{"id":1412876,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412876/?format=json","text_counter":302,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"MEASURES TAKEN TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS TO FREE MATERNITY SERVICES UNDER THE LINDA MAMA INITIATIVE The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"},{"id":1412877,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412877/?format=json","text_counter":303,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Githunguri, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health the following question: Could the Cabinet Secretary: (a) clarify whether the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has ceased remitting funds to private hospitals for provision of free maternity services and, if so, what steps are being taken to ensure continued access to those services by pregnant women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds? (b) explain the measures taken to ensure the continued operation and access to free maternity services under the Linda Mama Initiative, particularly in light of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that is yet to be fully implemented? (c) provide details on how the Social Health Insurance Fund will facilitate comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare for women?"},{"id":1412878,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412878/?format=json","text_counter":304,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Cabinet Secretary."},{"id":1412879,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412879/?format=json","text_counter":305,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Ms. Susan Nakhumicha","speaker_title":"The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members. This Question ties up with the question that Hon. Zamzam asked. I wish to respond as follows: Free maternity services are financed by the Exchequer through the NHIF on a fee-for- service arrangement. The Fund has not ceased remitting funds to private hospitals for provision of those services and mothers continue to get services from contracted facilities, which in turn bill the NHIF thereafter. However, there has been a delay in remittance of the Exchequer from the National Treasury. The Ministry has engaged the National Treasury for release of Ksh4.098 billion that is owed under the Linda Mama Scheme. The Ministry has this week received a confirmation from the National Treasury of the release of a total of Ksh5.5 billion for the NHIF and out of that, Ksh2.5 billion is for the Linda Mama Scheme. If we receive the Ksh5.5 billion within this week, payment of Linda Mama claims will start from next week. The second part asks us to explain the measures taken to ensure the continued operation and access to free maternity services under the Linda Mama Initiative, particularly in light of the SHIF that is yet to be fully implemented. The Government enacted the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 to provide a framework for improved health outcomes and financial protection in line with the right to health and universal health coverage. The Act establishes the Social Health Authority (SHA) that will manage the Primary Healthcare Fund, the SHIF and the Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. Maternity services have been provided as part of the scope of the benefits package to be accessed under the SHA. To access the benefits package under the SHA, all Kenyans are expected to register with the SHA in line with the Social Health Insurance (General Regulations), 2024. Benefits under the SHA will start to be accessed from 1st July 2024. However, the NHIF continues to operate. Therefore, there is no gap and we are ensuring that there is a seamless transition. The Government also recognises that we have low-income households which may not be able to raise the minimum amount of Ksh300 for the SHA. The Government will, in this regard, pay premiums for those households, which may include pregnant women, in order to enable them to access maternity services. This is in line with Section 27(2)(c) of the Act which provides that needy households will receive financial assistance as determined by the Government at a rate that is apportioned by Parliament and county assemblies for that purpose as prescribed under this Act. Part 3 of the Question asks us to provide details on how the SHIF will facilitate comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare for women. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"},{"id":1412880,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1412880/?format=json","text_counter":306,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Ms. Susan Nakhumicha","speaker_title":"The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health","speaker":null,"content":"The SHA will facilitate comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare for women by providing explicitly listed benefits that are accessible at levels 2 and 3 health facilities at no cost to the member through the Primary Healthcare Fund, which is fully financed by the Government. A list of the benefits packages and maternity services to be accessed through the Primary Healthcare Fund and the SHA has been annexed to this presentation and we shall leave it behind. Some of the benefits include access to family planning, antenatal care, pre- and post- delivery visits, normal deliveries and caesarean sections, and complications related to deliveries. Just before and after the launch of the benefits packages, the Authority will invest in massive communications campaigns to inform mothers and all Kenyans of their entitlement to those benefits. I am aware that some Members think that the Linda Mama Scheme has been scrapped and, therefore, there are no benefits for women. I wish to confirm that I am a mother of two and I aspire to be a mother of five. Therefore, the existence of the Linda Mama Initiative will ensure that all benefits under the Linda Mama Scheme are ring-fenced not just for myself as an aspiring mother, but for all the women of this country. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, I submit."}]}