By Arnold Ageta
The KNUT Nyamira branch has condemned the move by private hospitals to demand upfront payment for medical services from public servants.
The announcement by the private hospitals targets public servants registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a press statement sent to media houses on Saturday, KNUT Nyamira Branch Executive Secretary Evans Obiri expressed his dissatisfaction with the move, saying it is a betrayal of the trust placed in these healthcare providers to serve the public interest.
“We are appalled and outraged by the recent announcement by private hospitals, citing the government’s debt to them, to demand upfront payment for medical services from public servants who are registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) program,” the statement said.
Further, Mr. Obiri said that the government’s failure to settle its debts to private hospitals is no justification for shifting the burden to public servants who are already overworked and under immense stress.
“Public servants, including healthcare workers, teachers, and civil servants, are the backbone of our economy and society,” he said. “We have religiously paid our monthly dues without delay.”
He warned that they are being subjected to financial hardship and uncertainty, even though they deserve access to quality healthcare.
“We demand that the government take immediate action to settle its outstanding debts to private hospitals and ensure that public servants receive the medical care they deserve without any disruption,” he said.
Mr. Obiri has also called upon the private hospitals to reconsider their decision and continue providing services to public servants as agreed upon under the SHA program.
He says that the government must prioritize the welfare of its employees and ensure that they have access to quality healthcare.
“We will not stand idly by while public servants are forced to suffer due to the government’s failure to fulfill its obligations,” he warned.
He has asked the government to engage in urgent talks with private hospitals to find a solution that does not punish public servants.
The private hospitals, through the Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF), informed SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi that private healthcare providers are unable to provide medical services to public servants without compensation from the government’s health insurance scheme.
In a letter dated August 7, KHF stated, “Unless the outstanding claims are settled per the contractual terms, providers will have no choice but to request that public servants pay for both past and future medical bills directly and then seek reimbursement from their employers and/or the SHA.”
In the letter written by the federation’s chairperson, Dr. Kanyenje Gakombe, he said that the prolonged non-payment has pushed private healthcare facilities to their financial limits.
“Provider records show that the above-mentioned scheme has not substantially, or at all, settled claims since its inception nine months ago,” wrote Dr. Gakombe.
The letter further stated that providers can no longer fund the scheme using their resources, including savings, bank facilities, and supplier credit.
The letter highlights how hospitals have been forced to use their own resources to continue serving public servants.
The federation claims that delayed payments are placing an unsustainable burden on private healthcare providers, threatening their operational viability.
“While providers deeply regret having to take this course of action, it remains the only viable option to ensure they remain operational and accessible, not just to public officers, but to all patients,” the letter states.
Despite the harsh ultimatum, the federation emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly.
This ultimatum has prompted a reaction from the KNUT Nyamira branch.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary actions to protect the rights and interests of public servants,” Mr. Obiri concluded.
