The newly passed Social Health Insurance Bill 2023 has previously drawn criticism from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which expressed doubt and listed possible consequences. Over 3 million Kenyans, including civil officials and their families, may lose their complete medical coverage immediately as a result of the new law, according to the Union, which expressed regret at the Parliamentary Health Committee’s rejection of their ideas. With the new law potentially tripling the required statutory deductions from Ksh. 1,700 to Ksh. 5,000, each member would have to contribute Ksh. 8,500 monthly or Ksh. 102,000 annually without guaranteeing access to treatment. The union questioned the government about whether it was sinful to be unemployed in Kenya due to the possible suffering associated with one-time, yearly payments.
Atwoli, Zakayo Kariuki Gichuki, and Jacinta Kathamu Mutegi were appointed by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. The three will be members of the Social Health Authority for a three-year tenure beginning November 22, 2023. In order to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of their financial situation, have access to high-quality healthcare, a transition will be implemented that would compel formal sector employees to contribute 2.75 percent of their monthly salary, with a monthly ceiling of Ksh. 300–5,000. The Primary Health Care Bill, which focuses on efficient healthcare delivery through primary healthcare networks and community health units, is one of the several UHC legislations that are now Acts.
Also, the Digital Health Bill concentrates on creating and maintaining the Comprehensive Integrated Management Information System for seamless health information exchange, while the Facility Improvement Financing Bill seeks to establish an effective system for collecting and managing health service revenue. However, the Social Health Insurance Fund Act 2023, the Primary Health Care Act 2023, and the Digital Health Act 2023 have all been put on hold by the high court until a case contesting their legality is heard, just one week after Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha published a Gazette notice operationalizing the Social Health Insurance Fund.
As promised, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has taken action to stop the social health insurance program from being implemented. President William Ruto had stated that the government would begin implementing the laws’ intended universal health coverage in January 2024, but the doctors’ union filed a lawsuit to get an injunction prohibiting the government from moving forward with this plan. KMPDU has maintained that the government has not consulted stakeholders to address the controversial problems surrounding the Social Health Insurance Act before moving forward with its implementation. The union has forewarned NHIF employees against attempts to obstruct the transfer to the Social Health Authority and claims it will deny Kenyan citizens access to government services.