Private hospitals to stop offering services to NHIF beneficiaries

The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) has issued a 7-day notice to National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and Social Health Authority (SHA) to release funds owed to its member hospitals.

In a statement, KAPH Chairperson Dr. Eric Musau stated that if NHIF does not honour the payments, private hospitals shall cease offering services to NHIF beneficiaries.

“We have issued a 7- day demand notice the NHIF/SHA to release all funds owed to members as per our contractual agreements which is 60 days after service offering. Our members shall stop services to NHIF beneficiaries should the fund not honour the payments as stipulated in hospital contracts,” reads the statement.

Musau said that KAPH has engaged NHIF to discuss the delayed payments, however, the funds remitted were minimal and hospitals could not proceed with hospital operations.

“Our member hospitals have been forced to take expensive credit, lay off workers and default on supplier payments to continue offering care to NHIF beneficiaries,” he added.

“NHIF has been remitting very little portions of money owed which is not able to sustain operations. We have received reports of facilities closing some hospital operations or closing hospitals completely due to non-payment for services offered.”

On January 2, 2024, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha had warned private hospitals against issuing fake patient records.

Nakhumcha was speaking at Lugulu Mission Hospital in Bungoma, where she said that action will be taken against hospitals that overcharge patients who are beneficiaries of the NHIF scheme.