Kakamega County National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) card holders receiving inpatient services are forced to dig deep into their pockets to pay the medical bills that would supposedly paid by NHIF.
Kenyanbulletin.com has learnt that hospital staff manning the NHIF desk separately charge for CT scan, MRI services, ultrasound and surgery, all payments made in cash. The main target being NHIF members covered under the national scheme.
In one instance, Hellen Makina, 29, was diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy and admitted at CGH’s gynecology ward, underwent a laparotomy surgical operation and discharged six days later with a medical bill of Kes. 23,407.
The hospital staff claimed NHIF had rejected settling the entire bill and demanded that she separately pays Sh10,000 for theatre and ultra sound services Sh1,500.
In another instance in the same facility, John Otieno Clinton, 5, was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia and was slapped with a bill of Kes. 14,000.
Otieno’s father, Richard, sought the intervention of NHIF which responded by accepting a late notification but still that was not proof enough to waive the Sh14,000 back to NHIF.
NHIF Kakamega branch acting manager Caroline Sakwa confirmed that she had received the two and several others’ complaints.
For Hellen, a notification was prompt but the hospital did not seek authorisation for ultrasound and laparotomy and even after I advised the hospital staff, they did not act.
She expressed shock that Helen and Clinton were forced to pay cash in spite her intervention.
Hellen patient paid Kes. 11,500 cash for ultrasound and laparotomy given as her card had no encumbrances to block the procedures.
Clinton paid Sh14,000 for the period he was hospitalised without a notification.
