Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – The Coastal Region chapter of medical
practitioners and dental unions has opposed the new Social Health Insurance
Fund (SHIF) system saying it has numerous flaws.
The practitioners drawn from 6
counties largely composed of Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and
Dentists Union (KMPDU) members issued the statement in their third annual
general meeting where they gather to discuss various issues affecting
them.
According to them, SHIF does not
adequately cater for the various needs of Kenyans. As a result, the new system has
forced many Kenyans from various parts of the country to pay out of pocket
despite being registered and being paid-up members of the Social Health
Authority (SHA).
This comes days after Health PS
warned against demanding cash payments from patients registered under SHA.
Nonetheless, Kenyans have to dig into their pockets to receive treatment that
is not covered under SHIF.
Doctors from the Coast region
are now the latest to join Kenyans from across the country in expressing anger
and frustration over the new SHIF system despite the government’s calls to have
Kenyans enroll in the new SHIF system.
According to the doctors, the
new system that the government has been promoting is ineffective and deeply
flawed as it has left many patients stranded both in the hospital and outside.
At the same time, the Ministry
of Health maintains its goal is to enroll all Kenyans into the system by the end of
December, but the doctors have raised concerns over the implementation of the
scheme which has 13 million Kenyans registered so far.
On his part, chairperson of
KMPDU Coast lamented that medics too are having it rough.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
