Mwendazake Mzee Leonard Mambo Mbotela alikuwa ndiye “baba wa taifa” wa redio na utangazaji. Kupitia kwenye kipindi maarufu cha, “Je Huu ni Uungwana?”, Mzee Mbotela alitufunza lugha ya Kiswahili, utu bora na pia tukatumbuizwa kwa vichekesho vilivyokuwemo. Fauka ya hayo, Hayati Mzee Mbotela alikuwa mtangazaji mahiri wa mpira, habari na Salamu. Twasema makiwa kwa jamaa, marafiki, waliokuwa wafanyikazi wenza wa Mzee Mambo Mbotela na mashabiki wote wa redio. #RIPMamboMbotela @RadioTaifaFM @KBCChannel1

The best way forward is to improve our public hospitals and have public servants like teachers use them through a public health insurance.

RT @AKUMCEA: His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims passed away peacefully in…

RT @HEBobiwine: Deepest condolences on the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV. His Highness the Aga Khan devoted his life to the servi…

RT @VOCALAfrica_: At Milimani Court today with the family of Rex Masai as they seek justice for their son, who was shot and killed during t…

My condolences to the Aga Khan community in Kenya and globally on the passing on of His Highness The Aga Khan. The Aga Khan University/Hospital is an exemplary institution in health, research and education in Kenya. Its impact is self-evident. May he rest in peace and may his legacy live on. @AKU_BMI @AKUHNairobi @AKUGlobal

RT @OkiyaOmtatah: Good morning #SHA

RT @BravinYuri: This is a great piece on SHIF/SHA by @therapcaster.

RT @Asamoh_: If you can renovate State House at 10B. You can fund HIV / vaccine programs.

RT @renal_ke: SHA @_shakenya is down at KNH, AGAIN! @KNH_hospital KNH system also DOWN! no admissions since morning. No word from SHA or K…

RT @Arch_KE: PRESS RELEASE: AAK's Statement on State House Renovations. The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) @Arch_KE expresses d…

RT @Asamoh_: SHIF is not working because top government officials and MoH cartels saw it as a business and not healthcare. It was designed…

Unfortunately if the chaos affecting health workers are not sorted, the sector will remain weak. Discrimination, harassment, failed promotions, professional stagnation, delayed salaries etc. These challenges can be sorted by nationalizing the health workforce from level 4 upwards.

THE WAY FORWARD ON SHIF/SHA In the midst of the widespread public dissatisfaction with the social health insurance authority/fund (SHA/SHIF), I hereby make the following recommendations to fix the challenges both in the short and long term. 1. REDUCE THE RATE OF CONTRIBUTION Reduce the rate of contribution from 2.75% of gross pay to 1% of the basic pay (or thereabout) and cap it to a figure that matches the average cost of private insurance in Kenya (Minimum Kes 500; Maximum Kes 5000). Allow parliament to set/adjust this rate in the social health insurance act as opposed to giving the cabinet secretary health the power to do so arbitrarily in regulations. (Major deal breaker). 2. MAKE SOCIAL INSURANCE OPTIONAL FOR THE UNEMPLOYED Make joining the social health insurance optional for the unemployed persons and those in informal employment but make it attractive and target a large pool of voluntary contributors. Maintain the KES 500 flat rate per household rate (or thereabout) and pay for the indigents at the same rate on application and vetting locally. Allow spouses and children under 25 years to be covered under a principal contributor. 3. STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Invest in public healthcare and improve the state of public hospitals to attract voluntary contributions into the social insurance. Build additional national referral facilities in all counties run by the national government such as the Mwai Kibaki hospital Nyeri and KUTTRH. Provide grants to counties to revitalize public hospital infrastructure across the country. 4. DO NOT STEAL HOSPITAL REVENUE Allow hospitals to keep their revenue and use it for recurrent expenditure and development. Do not introduce middle-men (vendors) to rob hospitals of their revenue. Scrap the plan to outsource claims management to private insurance companies. Simplify the claims management system to reduce delays. Employ qualified professionals to vet and oversee claims. 5. PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS Limit the usage of social health insurance funds to public health facilities to help improve public hospitals and sustain high standards in public health facilities over time. 6. PUBLIC SERVANTS TO USE PUBLIC HOSPITALS Abolish additional private covers for civil servants including state officers. This would save resources and provide a strong incentive for political leaders to invest in public hospitals. 7. COST MEDICAL SERVICES AND IMPROVE THE BENEFIT PACKAGES Cost all medical services in Kenya. This cost will inform the price of health services and therefore the benefit packages. Scrap the co-pay option and let the social insurance pay 100% of hospital bills. (Major deal breaker). 8. ALLOW COUNTIES TO RUN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE Repeal the primary healthcare act and allow counties to run primary healthcare services according to local needs and the spirit of devolution. The central government can fully subsidize these services through general taxes. 9. SIMPLIFY THE FUND Merge the emergency, critical and chronic conditions fund and the social health insurance fund into one fund – funded by contributions. This will reduce the confusion because of the frequent overlap among these states of ill-health. 10. NATIONALISE HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH Fix the human resource chaos in the country. Nationalize the healthcare workforce from level 4 hospitals and upwards to allow for their easy mobility and distribution across the country and facilitate their easy training and professional growth. Healthcare workers under the primary healthcare such as community health promoters can remain under county governments. @MOH_Kenya @kmpdu @KenyaMedics_KMA @DeboraBarasa @HakiKNCHR @KenyaGovernors @_shakenya @HERAF_Kenya

The ongoing debate on the social health insurance system (SHIF/SHA) has exposed the many challenges faced by our healthcare system due to many years of under-investment. An acceptable social health insurance should protect the unemployed, be fair to workers and guarantee the highest standard of healthcare to all. Tomorrow, I will share my reflections on why SHIF/SHA is not working and what changes can be made to make it work in the context of our healthcare system.

RT @OkiyaOmtatah: For decades, the Kenyan people have been burdened by odious debts incurred by past regimes under questionable, and often…

RT @HonJBMuturi: Regardless of your position in society, government, or the security sector, always remember that one day, you will have to…

RT @dkmaraga: At the beginning of the year, I made a call for us to protect the sanctity and dignity of every Kenyan life. It has come to u…

RT @andrewsuleh: The amount of money SHA allocated for public relations should be reallocated to the benefit package for the provision of u…