The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced that it will go on strike in the following 14 days.
The Union’s Secretary General Davji Atella has said that the protest will take place if the Ministry of Health fails to take action on the flawed rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
At the same time, the SG and other union members have vowed to take to the streets if employees at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) are not assured of job security as the transition takes place.
“As public sector unions, we demand immediate action on the flawed rollout of SHA, continuation of comprehensive healthcare coverage, and 100 percent job transition for former NHIF workers.
“If these are not resolved within 14 days, all the unions will begin industrial action.”
Also Read: Doctors Poke Holes in SHA Hours After Rollout
KMPDU Earlier Stance on SHA
Hours after the rollout of SHA on October 1, KMPDU registered its criticism saying that the authority was a capsizing ship adding that it will deny Kenyans access to healthcare.
“The Union continues to consistently warn that the comprehensive medical package provided by NHIF was superior to all other private sector insurance plans. Then the Union alleged that the stoppage was designed to benefit private insurance companies.
“We relinquished our medical allowance for comprehensive medical cover, which has now been removed, and yet we are expected to pay five times more this is insane,” Atellah stated.”
The new Social Health Authority (SHA) will see the salaried employees deducted a statutory contribution to Social Health Insurance Fund at a rate of 2.75% of the gross salary or wage of the household.
Also Read: SHA Lists Contracted Hospitals for Cancer Treatment & Dialysis; How to Check
SHA Update So Far
According to a Monday, October 6 statement, the authority announced that it had registered 12,704,548 members, including verified members who were under the defunct NHIF.
Also, SHA detailed that registered members and their dependents were entitled to healthcare at Levels 2 hospitals, Dispensaries, Health Centers and select level 4 Health Facilities.
“We have also noted that most beneficiaries are registering but not adding their dependents. We call upon all to add their dependents for them to access healthcare services as well.”
At the same time, the statement noted that 1,442 health facilities had since returned duly signed contracts and were therefore offering services to SHA registered beneficiaries.
“We have also made sure that the Health Insurance Claims System (HICS) operating under the defunct NHIF continues to be in operation for member verification, discharge of patients admitted before 1st October, 2024.”
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