The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has called out Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over outstanding premiums totaling Ksh7.8 billion owed by the Ministry of Health to the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
In a post on Friday, October 31, RUPHA highlighted that the Ministry of Health owes the largest share of unpaid premiums among all government ministries, departments, and agencies as of 30th September 2024.
According to a summary report on outstanding premiums from the government, the Ministry of Health's debt of Ksh7.827 billion is allocated across various health programs.
The Universal Health Coverage for Indigents accounts for the largest portion at Ksh4 billion, followed by the Linda Mama program at Ksh2.122 billion. The Health Insurance Subsidy Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HISP-OVC) owes Ksh1.415 billion, while HISP for Other Poor and Vulnerable Persons with Severe Disabilities (OPPSD) accounts for Ksh289.5 million.
"So Aden Duale when is your Ministry settling its 7.8B? This is enough for 91% of all hospitals in Kenya," RUPHA stated in their post.
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The Ministry of Public Service comes in second with Ksh3.471 billion owed for civil servants' medical cover, representing a significant burden on healthcare facilities that have served government employees.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration owes Ksh 1.638 billion for the medical coverage of National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service officers.
County governments collectively owe Ksh804.5 million, while parastatals have an outstanding debt of Ksh60.5 million.
The cumulative outstanding premiums from all government entities amount to Ksh13.8 billion, revealing a systemic issue of non-payment that has crippled healthcare providers across the country.
Hospitals have since the beginning of the year come after the government over money owed by the defunct NHIF.
In March, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri revealed that faith-based hospitals were grappling with unpaid NHIF amounts exceeding Sh250 million, blaming the ongoing transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) for pushing many hospitals into financial distress.
"We still have over Sh250 million owed to us by the government for the last four years. We try, we cry, we appeal, we plead but we seem to receive noncommittal responses," Muheria said at the time.
"In any industry or a company, Sh250 million is a debt that paralyses an institution, yet we have continued offering services," he added.
Catholic Church leaders urged the government to reimburse the money, enabling hospitals to continue offering services to Kenyans. They noted that the unpaid debts were undermining their efforts to improve healthcare delivery, despite their commitment to serving vulnerable communities.
Earlier this year, RUPHA announced the indefinite suspension of services under the Social Health Authority insurance scheme, effective February 24, citing unpaid claims and an unsustainable reimbursement model.
"The continued failure to resolve critical challenges in the SHA transition is directly endangering patient care and hospital sustainability," RUPHA Chairman Brian Lishenga said.
"Hospitals have lost staff, defaulted on loans, and faced medicine shortages due to delayed payments," Lishenga added.
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