The clergy has rejected the recently rolled-out Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and blamed the government for Kenyans’ misfortunes since the program’s inception.
Addressing the press, the clergymen led by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) expressed discontent and disagreement with the program and called for its suspension noting that it was hurriedly rolled out without an appropriate plan on how it would work effectively for all Kenyans.
This, according to the clergy, is evident by all the growing concerns over patients being forced to spend out of pocket despite paying for the program. The clergy has since urged the government to reconsider and restrategize before implementing the program to ensure that Kenyans get the most out of what they pay for.
“Let us not sacrifice any more lives just to get money out of Kenyans. We can go back to SHA when all is worked out and life and everybody are stable to move. It does not make sense to us that Kenyans are paying more money but getting fewer benefits. We are moving from okay to worse,” NCCK Chair Bishop Alphonce Anga said.
His sentiments were echoed by AIPCA Bishop, Joseph Ngige who decried that the program was frustrating patients struggling to pay for dialysis and diabetics treatment. He wondered why the government was hell-bent on assuring Kenyans that the program was at its full operation when the situation in hospitals was different.
“We have members on dialysis and members who are diabetic, to our surprise, when they get to the hospitals, they don’t get the services they require and in most cases, they are forced to get into their pockets,” Bishop Joseph Ngige of the AIPCA said.
“The government is promising that the process is in full operation. Where is it operating? If the common man is not fully attended to according to his or her needs, how can he convince our members that the program is working?”
Catholic Bishop Anthony Muheria also fingered the government over the program noting that the lack of access to health care was a violation of human rights.
“We don’t seem to have had that thought of the sick, people who die because they can’t get services are a main concern.”
The government, however, has maintained that the program is operational and urged those facing problems with the initiative to report and seek assistance from the Ministry of Health.
President William Ruto has also supported the program insisting that it is vital in progressing Kenya’s health care system and assured Kenyans that the program is effective.
“Tukisonga mbele mpango yetu ni kwamba iko na pesa ya kutosha kuhakikisha ya kwamba kila mwananchi ambaye anaenda kutafta matibabu, tutahakikisha kwamba wanapata matibabu bila ubaguzi na tukienda mbele, hakuna mwananchi tena ambaye ataulizwa mambo ya pesa katika mahospitali yetu,” Ruto said.
