PRESS RELEASE: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW NHIF SCHEME
We make reference to our earlier letter dated 15th October, 2015 with even reference COTU/NHIF/95/VOL 3/187and once again write to reiterate that the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, COTU (K) remains committed to the full implementation and success of the New Scheme subject to the NHIF’s respect and adherence to our joint communique as entered into by the parties in our earlier two meetings.
More importantly, it has been COTU (K)’s demand that the NHIF enters into a binding contract with all government hospitals as health provides to set aside a complete wing dedicated solely to all NHIF Card-holders whereby such holders will be able to walk in and out without any hitch and this will ease the many complaints currently being raised by contibutors as they seek services against their contributions.
At the same time, the obsession by the NHIF to engage Private Health providers and hospitals is misplaced as these are the same Instituions that led to the collapse of the previous scheme following COTU(K)’s move to Court to stop the contributions as most of these Private Hospitals are run by corrupt individuals out to make money at the expense of Workers’ health. Let us pre-occupy ourselves with creating a wing in every government Public hospital spread across the Country after which the NHIF could now go for the Private-owned health providers as a second alternative.
Otherwise, NHIF’s continued delay in securing this all-important deal with Government hospitals and amid growing concerns from our members who are being turned away from these hospitals despite their records showing that they are up-to-date with NHIF contributions, COTU (K) will be left with no option other than proceed to court and seek Orders to annul the Scheme and ask our members to stop forthwith their enhanced contirubutions to NHIF.
Kindly be guided.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Francis Atwoli, EBS, MBS
SECRETARY GENERAL
