Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized the Kenya Kwanza Government after the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) announced plans to suspend Social Health Authority (SHA) services in their facilities over pending NHIF debt.
In a statement on Friday, February 21, Maraga it is unacceptable for the government to fail to remit funds to the private hospitals yet Kenyans have been paying into SHA and previously NHIF.
“I am deeply concerned at the news that the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association intends to suspend healthcare services to Kenyans due to the failure of government to remit funds for their services.
“The failure to remit refunds is unacceptable as the government-run Social Health Authority is responsible for these payments, and Kenyans have been paying into SHA (and before that into NHIF),” read the statement in part.
The former CJ went on to say it is wrong and morally unacceptable to subject Kenyans to suffering when they need hospital services and medicines.
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He pointed out that some cases need urgent medical attention and lives are at stake if private hospitals suspend SHA services.
Maraga called on the government to move with speed and address the challenges facing healthcare institutions.
“The government must seriously address the crumbling of healthcare institutions. Our Constitution guarantees Kenyans the right to the highest attainable standard of health. For far too long, providing access to healthcare services has been chocked by poor policies and corrupt practices in government,” he added.
Further Maraga highlighted that the country cannot be moved backwards because of few people who are taking advantage to get rich.
“A country with a sick population cannot advance. We must ensure the best healthcare institutions if we are to realize the aspirations on universal healthcare in our constitution,” Maraga remarked.
On Thursday RUPHA announced that it would suspend the SHA services from Monday, February 24.
The association lamented that the government was yet to pay over Ksh30 billion NHIF debt despite past promises.
"This decision has not been made lightly. It follows months of failed engagements, unfulfilled promises, and growing financial distress among hospitals, which now threatens the very survival of healthcare institutions across Kenya.,” RUPHA stated.
