Jubilee Party nnominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege is pushing to have all state officers, civil servants, and public officers compelled to use public health facilities.
Chege on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, filed a notice of motion on the implementation of the universal health coverage and a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by public officers.
“I would like to give a notice of motion on the implementation of the universal health coverage and a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by public officers,” Chege said.
She argued that most public healthcare facilities are facing financial difficulties, making it hard for them to fund some of their services.
Medical cover
According to the lawmaker, the public officers who are provided with comprehensive health insurance cover, by the government can help the public facilities get more funds if they seek services from there.
Chege therefore wants the government, through the Ministry of Health, to implement the Kenya Universal Health Coverage policy 2020-2030 and introduce a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by all civil servants, public officers, and state officers in the country.
“I am aware that article 43 (1a) of the constitution provides every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, and I am further aware that the government committed to accelerating the attainment of UHC to ensure Kenyans have access and receive essential health services cognizant of the fact that in 2020, the Ministry of Health adopted the Kenya Universal Healthcare coverage policy 2020-2030 with the theme “Accelerating the attainment of Universal Health Coverage,” which is currently being implemented through the introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund,” Sabina Chege said.
“Noting that there is a need to increase the quality of care and services provided in the public health sector, concerns that public healthcare services lack adequate funds to guarantee quality healthcare services, and further noting that civil servants, public officers, and state officers are accorded comprehensive medical cover by the respective government agencies, appreciating that the use of comprehensive medical cover by public officers and state officers in public hospitals would guarantee sufficient funding for hospitals, this house therefore resolves that the government through the ministry of health implements the Kenya Universal Health Coverage policy 2020-2030 and introduce a policy on mandatory use of public healthcare facilities by all civil servants, public officers and state officers in the country who are using medical covers catered for by the government of Kenya.”
SHA-RUPHA standoff
This comes amid a biting crisis, pitting SHA and the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA).
Hospitals under RUPHA have temporarily suspended services under the SHA insurance scheme and Medical Administrator Kenya Limited (MAKL) due to unresolved payment issues.
The suspension took effect on Monday, February 24, 2025, according to guidelines issued to member hospitals by the body on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
RUPHA says the suspension ensures that patients are not abandoned while protecting healthcare providers from financial collapse.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, RUPHA revealed a Ksh30 billion debt owed by the government to the hospitals, which has made operations difficult.
“The Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), representing hundreds of private and faith-based healthcare facilities nationwide, announces today (Thursday, February 20, 2025) a suspension of services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme beginning Monday, 24th February 2025.
“As healthcare professionals, our first duty is the welfare of our patients. However, the continued failure to address critical challenges in the SHA transition is now directly endangering the quality and sustainability of care in our hospitals. This decision has not been made lightly,” the RUPHA statement read.
RUPHA chairman Dr. Brian Lishenga, in an interview with a local TV station on Monday evening, revealed that they had held a meeting with the government over the standoff, but no solution was provided.
According to Lishenga, the government side maintained that there is no money to settle the debt in question.
