NOVEMBER 2023 – KENYA
HEALTH BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW
It is important that employers note the following:
The Social Health Insurance Act 2023
On Thursday, 19 October 2023, President William Ruto signed four health bills that will support his Universal Health Coverage plan.
These are the Primary Health Care Act, 2023, the Digital Health Act, 2023, the Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2023 and the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
According to the proposed legislation, Kenyans will no longer incur catastrophic expenditures from out-of-pocket healthcare payments should they fall ill. The Acts will provide the necessary legal and institutional framework for the successful rollout of Universal Health Coverage.
The Social Health Insurance Act repeals the current National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and establishes three new funds:
·       The Primary Healthcare Fund;
·       The Social Health Insurance Fund; and
·       The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
The Primary Healthcare Fund will purchase services from health facilities at levels one to three, while the Social Health Insurance Fund will cover services at levels four to six. The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund will handle emergency and chronic illness costs once social health insurance is depleted.
The following persons will be liable to contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund:
·       Every Kenyan household;
·       A non-Kenyan resident, ordinarily residing in Kenya for a period exceeding twelve months;
·       The national government;
·       The county government; and
·       Any other employer. |