By Brian Kimani
Published on: November 21, 2024 05:37 (EAT)
President William Ruto has rebranded the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to Taifa Care; underscoring its fundamental role in providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to all Kenyans.
During his State of the Nation Address, the president expressed confidence in the model to provide effective and efficient service to the public.
He added that the repealed National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) only served a few salaried Kenyans at the expense of the majority who could not afford it.
He also pointed out that Taifa Care had a comprehensive benefits package that is easily accessible for Kenyans.
In the model, the State taps on 2.75 per cent of one's gross pay, with a minimum contribution of Ksh.300. Employers are also required to remit the payments by the 9th of every month.
"Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. I urge every Kenyan to take the most important step in securing dependable healthcare for themselves and their families: register now or at the earliest opportunity," Ruto remarked.
"Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services, in order to provide timely, effective and efficient service to everyone," he added.
The head of state noted that over 15 million Kenyans have currently enrolled in Taifa Care and 60 per cent of employers had successfully transitioned into the system.
"Once the transition from NHIF is complete and SHIF becomes fully operational, Kenya will have a healthcare system that guarantees dignity, peace of mind and equitable access for every citizen for the very first time in our 60 years of independence," the president said.
Since its rollout on October 1, 2024, the public has raised concerns over SHIF's effectiveness; citing that the new system locks out thousands of patients from accessing healthcare services.
Critics have also accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of rushing to roll out a Ksh.104.8 billion system that was full of missteps, questioning why the government ignored all the signs of imminent trouble.
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