President William Ruto has stated that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) payments will be restructured around the monthly pay of workers.
The new president said this while addressing the nation after taking his oath of office as Head of State at Kasarani Stadium yesterday.
“Our health agenda is premised on fundamental reforms in the way healthcare is financed and provided. Contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund will now be graduated and will depend on people’s income,” said Ruto.
Ruto specified that this was necessary in order to increase the pool of funds required to boost efficient service delivery and ensure that poor households are catered for in the health sector.
The President further stated that his amendment will have waivers applicable to families unable to pay the monthly rates so as to ensure the country realizes universal healthcare service.
His policy has been met approvingly by the national insurer which had been seeking ways to increase its funding in order to effectively implement universal health care.
NHIF had earlier this year proposed a payment structure that will be requiring workers earning more than Sh100,000 have the payment calculated as 1.7 per cent of their pay. However, this was rejected by the outgoing parliament.
Employees currently earning over Sh100,000 make a fixed monthly payment of Sh1,700 to NHIF.
Ruto had earlier pledged to lower minimum NHIF contributions from Sh500 to Sh300 and offer waivers to poor households while on a campaign trail in Kirinyaga county three months ago.