Speaking in a press conference at a Nairobi hotel vice chairman NCDs Mr John Gikonyo has said patients are experiencing systemic delay in access to critical care forcing them to wait for long hours to access life saving services like renal care,cardiac services with Mama Lucy hospital and Mbagathi hospital not able to offer the specialized services.
Gikonyo has said SHA coverage in private hospitals is restricted to particular civil servants a move that has denied all Kenyans access to the services with NCDs accounting for upto 41 percent of deaths in Kenya.
The caucaus has called in the government and ministry of health to settle all outstanding NHIF debts to allow service providers to confidently accept SHA patients and reduce financial burdens on patients.The government should also launch public awareness campaigns to increase understanding of SHA benefits registration requirements and financial options.
According to NCDs alliance,the government should immediately resume overseas treatment to support patients requiring specialized care unavailable locally.in a bid to restore patient trust in the system and transparency there is need to clarify and publicize SHA benefits structuresand address system failures.
