Kenya: NHIF Faulted Over Unregistered Clinics
In a letter addressed to the managing director Clinix Health care, the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board chief executive officer Daniel Yumbya notes with concern that Clinix Health care outlets are using letters of acknowledgment of application as license to operate some of the unlicensed facilities and warned them to stop.
"Kindly note that information received in this office indicate that you are using letters of acknowledgement of applications as a license to operate some of your unlicensed facilities.
Kindly stop that practice and ensure the following is adhered to:- All facilities must be inspected by the respective medical officers of health and reports submitted to the Board and names and certified copies of professional certificates for doctors in charge or clinical officers in charge must accompany the inspection report," the letter reads.
A letter addressed to the director of medical services/ registrar Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board by Yumbya gives a list of 33 Clinix Health care outlets whose applications are still pending because they had not fulfilled all Board requirements.
They include Clinix Health care facilities in Pangani, Imara Daima, Ngong road, Malindi, Ukunda, Kilifi, Voi, Kongowea, Lamu, Kwale, Nanyuki, Kitale, Kapenguria, Molo, Naivahsa, Kabarnet, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Eldoret, Narok, Iten, Moi's Bridge, Buret, Samburu, Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana and Trans Mara.
The medical insurance is meant to cover civil servants including police, teachers, members of the disciplined forces and will include the principal member, spouse and three dependents aged below 18 years.
The National Health Insurance Fund CEO Richard Kerich was unavailable for comment when the Star contacted his office but an NHIF public relations officer who did not give her name said the fund is only dealing with licensed and registered Clinix Health care outlets. "We are dealing with some in Nairobi that are registered like the one at Agip House, Teleposta and Nairobi West.
I don't know all of them but maybe the CEO will be able to tell you," the public relations manager said.
The House Committee on Health has questioned NHIF's choice of service providers, especially how little known Clinix Health care which has only 56,747 members could have been awarded over 40 per cent of the total civil servants to be covered.
The insurer has paid the accredited hospitals the full amount of cover even before the scheme takes effect.
