NHIF on the spot as church operated hospitals cry foul

Machakos Diocese Catholic Bishop Norman King'oo and Matungulu MP Stephen Mule have raised concern over the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) which they said had been dysfunctional causing suffering to both subscribers and health care providers.

Bishop King'oo said many hospitals managed by the Catholic Church were unable to function due to huge debts occasioned by the failure by NHIF to pay for the insurance cover.

Bishop King'oo said the hospitals were unable to pay their staff as a result.

"It has been very difficult for health insurance not paying and we are owed billions. Where am I going to get money to pay our staff members? Where am I going to get money to pay suppliers?" posed Bishop King'oo.

He was commissioning a new community Dispensary Catholic hospital in Nguluni location in Matungulu Constituency on Friday.

The bishop challenged elected leaders to stand up for the rights of the citizens through the existing channels of governance.

He told political leaders to understand that Kenyans look up to them “because they elected you as their representatives”.

"The things we are seeing every day in the press are shocking. Even the religious leaders cannot comprehend what is happening. There's poor governance in leadership and Kenyans are suffering," he said.

Mr Mule said Kenyans have been faithfully paying for NHIF through check-off system.

“But since the government interfered with the system and divided NHIF, there have been chaos and lack of transparency in the scheme,” Mr Mule claimed.

The MP demanded full accountability on the amount of money Kenyans have paid “since the government stopped paying healthcare providers.”

"The government stopped paying health care providers. I want to challenge the government… we want full accountability since you stopped paying the money. Where is the money? How much is it? Because that is taxpayers' money," said the lawmaker.

The MP promised to bring up the matter in Parliament.