More than 18, 000 vulnerable households have been added to a Murang’a County enhanced health scheme dubbed Kang’ata Care. The inclusion brings the total number of beneficiaries in the expanded health scheme to 38,865 households, which translates to approximately 120,000 individuals. On Monday, Governor Irungu Kang’ata signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NHIF to add new beneficiaries to the scheme, and the added households will start benefiting from the health coverage in January 2024. Those who were registered in the first phase, Kang’ata noted, will continue benefiting from the programme, which also covers the last expense for the principal member, spouse, and children. The medical coverage is offered to vulnerable households that are registered in a county-wide programme spearheaded by the community. Those registered in the programme are issued the Kang’ata Care card to enable them to access medical services in any NHIF-accredited health facility within the country. Last financial year, the Murang’a County government allocated Sh. 164 million to support Kang’ata care, where vulnerable households enlisted in the cover have been given access to free medical care in both public and private hospitals. Kang’ata, speaking during the signing of the MoU in his office, underscored the programme, saying beneficiaries have been accessing more medical services as compared to ordinary NHIF cover. ‘Last year, the project covered 20,700 households. This year, registered members increased to 38,865 households due to the popularity of the programme. More than 120,000 residents will benefit,’ said the governor. Among the health services packages at Kang’ata Care are inpatient and outpatient treatment, maternity, oncology, radiology, emergency evacuation, foreign treatment, surgery, dialysis, and mental and behavioural health. Additionally, members of the health scheme can access dental and optical treatment and other chronic illnesses. The Kang’ata Care programmeme is offered to vulnerable households who are registered in a county-wide programme spearheaded by the community. Those identified get the Kang’ata Care card for use in private and public hospitals. The premium payable for the scheme by the County government on the annual benefit will be Sh. 240 million. The premium will be renewable or revised for future periods of the insurance on the subject of increasing numbers of beneficiaries. According to the descriptions of the medical cover, the premium payable per beneficiary per household per year shall be Sh. 8,490, while the premium payable for the last expense shall be Sh. 10,000 once in a financial year. Praising the medical cover, Kang’ata said other countries can emulate the programme to enable vulnerable families to access free medical care. ‘The programme is effective in ensuring poor access to quality medical care, and I appeal to the other counties to establish a similar programme which will be of great benefit to the poor, who have for a long time suffered from access to treatment.’ He remarked. On his part, NHIF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Elijah Wachira said the medical scheme is geared towards rolling out Universal Health Coverage in alignment with the Bottom -Up Economic Transformation Agenda. ‘Murang’a was the first county to launch a unique Cover which aims at providing comprehensive healthcare services to the poor and vulnerable in Murang’a County,’ said Wachira. He called upon other county governments to learn from Murang’a and have a similar cover for the less fortunate in the society
Source: Kenya News Agency