Healthcare Unions clash with NHIF over new 2022-2024 contracts

Four Unions in the healthcare sector have threatened to suspend service delivery in 90% of the hospitals across the Country unless the new 2022-2024 NHIF contracts are revoked.

The Kenya Association of Private Hospital (KAPH), Rural Private Hospital Association of Kenya (RUPHA), The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) and the Kenya Dental Association say they are gravely concerned by reports that NHIF has unilaterally issued contracts to some of their member facilities for summary execution, in certain instances within a 24-hour period.

The Union officials led by Dr. Timothy Olweny from KAPH, Dr. Brian Lishenga from RUPHA, Dr. Were Onyino from KMA and Dr Tim Theuri from Kenya Dental Association have advised their members against signing any contracts issued to them by NHIF branch offices until such a time that the associations shall advise to the contrary.

“As key stakeholders in healthcare service delivery our hospital associations have made concerted efforts to engage the NHIF management to get insight into the changes proposed in the contracts for the 2022-2024 period as has been customary. However, to date we have not been formally provided with any draft contract documents that would form the basis of meaningful stakeholder engagement or public participation as required by law,” They said.

According to the Unions, the process of developing the contracts was not procedural to the extent that meaningful engagement of healthcare providers did not and has not taken place to date, and their input was not sought and save for a few providers, they are not privy to the contents of the contracts currently being circulated for execution.

“Given that some of the proposed changes may be of a material nature, with significant impact on patient care, the sustainability of the medical schemes and the viability of healthcare provider institutions, rushed execution of contracts without adequate time for perusal and subsequent implementation would be counterproductive,” They said.

They now want the contracting process halted with immediate effect until their associations formally receive copies of the draft contracts as currently prepared, peruse the contents, engage their members, get legal advice as required and engage NHIF as required on their concerns.

“The Medical benefit packages were developed without proper stakeholders’ involvement and have the impact of lowering the quality of healthcare services to the public if implemented as proposed. A point in case is the cutting of the number of sessions that NHIF will pay for dialysis of renal patients without due consideration of the outcome of the treatment for these vulnerable group. Stakeholders to be involved in formulating sound medical benefits package that will guarantee affordable quality health service delivery,” the Unions said.

The Kenya Dental Association said there is need for wide consultations when developing the benefits package saying the new one has largely omitted oral health benefits to Kenyans.

The new contract has also reviewed the cost of dialysis with NHIF saying it will only pay Ksh 6,500 per session, for a maximum of 3 sessions in a week with the patient expected to top up the remaining amount.