Gov't warns private hospitals against withholding services over NHIF debts

He reminded them that they, too, are subject to licensing requirements and should prioritize patient care over withholding services due to outstanding reimbursements.

Speaking after launching a public health management system digitization program in Embu, Kimtai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to clearing NHIF arrears dating back to 2016.

He announced that all debts below Ksh 10 million would be settled immediately, while larger amounts would undergo scrutiny to verify eligibility for payment.

In a related directive, Kimtai instructed Embu County’s Executive Committee Member for Health, Jamal Runyenjes, to investigate why 42.77% of public health facilities in the county are not offering Social Health Authority (SHA) services.

He noted that 77.36% of these facilities had failed to implement the SHA program as expected, adding that the new digitization initiative would help address such gaps.

President William Ruto’s senior economic advisor, Moses Kuria, acknowledged that the SHA rollout has faced challenges due to the high number of new enrollees.

However, he assured the public that ongoing enhancements would improve efficiency, ensuring both public and private health facilities provide equitable care.

Kuria further urged Kenyans to report any failures in service delivery, emphasizing that mechanisms are in place to address complaints and refine the system’s performance.