The government through the Ministry of Health has announced the scrapping of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards from October and announced a new way for kenyans in SHIF
This comes after the government shifted from NHIF to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) with NHIF cards expected to be scrapped away and a new way of identification used by patients.
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According to President William Ruto’s advisor on health financing, Daniel Mwai, the new Social Health Authority (SHA) will not be issuing health insurance cards like NHIF.
Instead, Kenyans will be using their National Identity cards to access services in the hospital. This he explained was because Kenyans already had many cards hence the need to use the ID card in accessing healthcare services.
“Our expectation is that you will use your ID card. People are in the business of having too many cards. Once you go to the hospital with your ID card, the facility will already be known and the charge will be removed from your card.”
On how you will be identified, the advisor explained that Kenyans will be required to take up biometric verification at the hospital. This will be done to identify the patient and remove any loopholes for forged medical claims.
This comes as the government is planning on mass registration of Social Health Insurance Fund Registration that was set to begin this July through the Social Health Authority website
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However, kenyans can also register using the USSD code *147# and later go for biometrics at the various NHIF offices. The government is also set to release biometrics devices to Community Health Promoters for faster registrations.