The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has demanded that the government urgently settle a Ksh13.8 billion debt owed to the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
In a statement issued on October 31, RUPHA revealed that various government ministries, departments, and agencies had accumulated unpaid premiums totaling Ksh12.8 billion as of September 30, 2024. The association warned that the delayed payments were straining hospital operations across the country.
According to RUPHA, the Ministry of Health (MOH) tops the debt list with an outstanding Ksh7.8 billion. The amount includes Ksh1 billion owed under the Health Insurance Subsidy Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HISP-OVC), Ksh289 million for the Older Persons and Persons with Severe Disabilities Program, Ksh2.1 billion under Linda Mama, and Ksh4 billion linked to the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative.
The Ministry of Public Service follows closely with an outstanding balance of Ksh3 billion owed for the Civil Servants Medical Cover, while the Ministry of Interior reportedly owes Ksh1.6 billion for the National Police Service and Kenya Police Service medical schemes.
RUPHA also noted that government parastatals owe an additional Ksh60.5 million, while county governments have pending arrears amounting to Ksh804.5 million.
The association’s chairperson, Brian Lishenga, urged all government entities to clear their arrears immediately to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare facilities. He emphasized that the unpaid funds could sustain up to 91 percent of hospitals in Kenya, underlining the urgency of the situation.
“So, Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health, when is your Ministry settling its Ksh7.8 billion? This is enough for 91% of all hospitals in Kenya,” RUPHA stated in part.
The association appealed to the government to prioritize payment to safeguard the continuity of essential health services, especially amid the transition from NHIF to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) framework.
