Busia County Senator Okiya Omtatah has taken a jab at President William Ruto for referring to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) as Taifa Care.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, the senator took to his X account to express his scepticism about the change.
“Kenyans: SHA/SHIF is not working. President Ruto: Solution, Let’s rename it to Taifa Care. Genius! Kasongo eeeh,” Omtatah quipped.
Kenyans: SHA/SHIF is not working.
President Ruto: Solution, Let’s rename it to Taifa Care.
Genius!
Kasongo eeeh 🎶— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) November 22, 2024
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which officially launched on October 1, 2024, replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The government touted it as a major step toward universal healthcare. However, in his State of the Nation address on Thursday, November 21, President Ruto repeatedly referred to the scheme as Taifa Care.
Taifa Care
In his address, the president emphasized that Taifa Care represents a significant departure from the NHIF model. He described it as a more inclusive healthcare system aimed at covering all Kenyans, regardless of their employment status.
“The shift from the National Health Insurance Fund model to Taifa Care is fundamental and radical in both scale and character,” Ruto said.
He explained that while the NHIF primarily served salaried workers and those who could afford its premiums, Taifa Care would expand coverage to everyone, including those in informal employment and the unemployed.
“NHIF served a few salaried Kenyans and those who could pay, but Taifa Care covers every Kenyan regardless of their employment status,” the president noted.
President Ruto also outlined the benefits of Taifa Care, positioning it as a more equitable healthcare model designed to reach every Kenyan.
“Secondly, despite serving a limited class of citizens, NHIF nevertheless accumulated billions of shillings of debt because of misalignment between contributions and the actual cost of healthcare,” he stated.
Registration
President Ruto highlighted the advantages of Taifa Care over the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), noting its focus on providing timely and efficient healthcare services. Unlike the NHIF, which requires a waiting period before new members can access services, Taifa Care offers immediate eligibility upon registration.
“Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services, in order to provide timely, effective and efficient service to everyone. Additionally, the NHIF had a waiting period, lasting between registration and eligibility for services.
“Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. I urge every Kenyan to take the most important step in securing dependable healthcare for themselves and their families: register now or at the earliest opportunity,” he stated.
The president also noted that Taifa Care has expanded healthcare services for Kenyans, including the introduction of free ambulance and emergency services.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, free primary healthcare is increasingly becoming available at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals. Ambulance and emergency services are also slowly but surely being made available at no fee.
“Under Taifa Care, we have introduced a comprehensive benefits package that brings specialised care, such as cardiothoracic surgery, within reach for many Kenyans, without the burden of financial strain,” he added.
President Ruto commended the role of the Digital Health Act in transforming the delivery of healthcare services through digitization.
“To date, over 15 million Kenyans have enrolled in Taifa Care and more than 60% of employers have successfully transitioned into its framework. The newly established Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) empowers citizens to contribute towards accessing a broad range of healthcare benefits.