Why Kenyan Government Officials May Be Required to Use Public Hospitals Exclusively
Kenya’s public sector could undergo a major shift as government officials might soon be required to seek medical services exclusively from public hospitals.
Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege is leading this significant motion, which is set to be presented in Parliament.
Speaking to the House on Thursday, 1 August, Chege outlined her ambitious plan to mandate that all public officers utilize public hospitals instead of private healthcare.
“I will be moving a motion that we encourage public officers to use public hospitals,” she declared, stressing the urgency of this initiative.
Chege believes that if Members of Parliament and other top officials begin using public facilities, these establishments will receive the necessary attention and improvements.
“If we, starting with Members of Parliament, use the public facilities, the CEOs and the doctors will make sure they are there. They will stop rushing to their private practices because a senior government official can show up anytime,” she said.
Chege also highlighted the financial advantages of this move. “If you are insured by the public and you have medical insurance of Ksh10 million, let us use that Ksh10 million or Ksh5 million in the public facility so that the money can be plowed back to the public and we will not have the many pending bills like this,” she explained.
This proposal echoes a similar initiative from 2018 when Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Hassan sought to amend the law to require public officers covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to use government health facilities.
Hassan’s bill was motivated by the belief that direct use of these facilities by public officers would enhance funding, staffing, and equipment.
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The proposed amendment would stipulate that NHIF only cover public officers’ medical expenses if they are treated in government hospitals. Currently, NHIF beneficiaries can access services in any approved hospital, irrespective of their employment location.
“With the continued deterioration of health services in the country, it is hoped that such an amendment will not only ensure that hospitals are well equipped but also ensure there is constant oversight of service delivery by leaders across the country in this very crucial sector,” stated the proposed law.
However, the draft bill did not complete the parliamentary process to become law.
The Constitution defines a public officer as any state officer or any person holding a public office. This includes officials from the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, counties, independent commissions, and parastatals, all of whom would be required to seek medical care from public hospitals if the bill is enacted.
The idea of public officers using public services has been a recurring topic among Kenyans. Many argue that if high-ranking officials, including the President and his family, were required to use public services, the quality of these services would significantly improve.
Proponents of this policy argue that once officials experience the same challenges as ordinary citizens, they will be more driven to improve service delivery.
However, confidence in public institutions is currently very low. This was highlighted in December 2022, when the National Police Service and the Kenya Prisons Service chose to end their comprehensive medical coverage with NHIF in favor of a private service provider.
Why Kenyan Government Officials May Be Required to Use Public Hospitals Exclusively
