NHIF Delay in Releasing Funds Threatens to Disrupt Dialysis
Private hospitals in the North Rift region are crying foul over the National Hospital Insurance Fund’s (NHIF) delay in releasing funds for kidney patients.
Speaking during a walk held in Eldoret town to mark World Kidney Day, Rapha Hospital and Clinics CEO Dr Sharon Sang says they haven’t received payments from NHIF since November last year.
“Currently main issue is the cost of getting care. NHIF has not been making payments to hospitals since November last year. This threatens to disrupt crucial dialysis and kidney care services as early as next week,” said Dr Sang.
“Patients cannot afford to miss a single dialysis session. The cost and access to health care is at risk for these patients,” she added.
She said the major cause of kidney failure is hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes.
“I want to urge Kenyans across the Country to embrace regular exercise and avoid processed foods, both of which contribute to the rising number of kidney cases. Kidney disease currently ranks as the eighth leading cause of death in the country,” she says.
With kidney disease currently ranking as the 8th leading cause of death, projections show it could become the 5th leading cause of lost years of life by 2040.
She called upon Parliament to expedite the passing of the Kenya Organ and Transplant Bill 2023.
“This bill will help a lot since patients will not take long to get the organs since they will be readily available. We support it fully and parliament should expedite the process,” she noted.
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