The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General (SG) Dr. Davji Bhimji has said the country is yet to achieve Universal Healthcare.
According to Davji, one of the hindrances to achieving Universal healthcare is its privatization.
“Universal healthcare as currently envisioned is a political dream, a mirage that may not be achieved. It can be a political vehicle for some time unless we realize we need to have functional healthcare. The cost of healthcare is rising every day, this comes when there is increased privatization of healthcare,” he said on Citizen.
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Davji further asked the government to put in place policies that allow leaders and civil servants to get services at public hospitals.
“If all leaders are seeking healthcare in private facilities, how then will we make sure public facilities work? If government gives more than Ksh.20B for civil servants to private insurances, how then will NHIF work?”
“There has to be an intentional plan to have Human Resource to run healthcare.” He spoke.
The KMPDU Secretary Genral also said that there are more than 500 healthcare workers whose employment status is currently pending with appointment letters dating as far back as December 2021.