Blow To Students As EduAfya Medical Scheme Come To An end
The Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 would phase down the EduAfya Medical Scheme, as indicated by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
According to the CS, the Sh4.6 billion allotted for the program would now be moved to the Primary Healthcare Fund, where students and their families will now be covered.
“All students are going to be covered under their households because it does not make sense to cover a student who comes from a household then the rest of the household is not covered,” the Chief of Staff stated.
Nakhumicha gave a speech on Thursday during a Universal Health Coverage spot-check in Busia County while on a working visit of Western Kenya.
According to the CS, the inspection was concentrated on low-level facilities, with a spot check performed to make sure the establishments had medical personnel and medications.
In May 2018, the EduAfya Medical Scheme went into effect nationwide for students enrolled in public secondary schools, as per an instruction from the previous President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Through the Free Day Secondary Education, which covered premiums for more than 3.4 million students, the Ministry of Education enabled it.
The government funded the program with Sh9.5 billion between 2019 and 2022.
The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) informed Parliament on November 30, 2023, that the program would end naturally after NHIF is replaced with a new fund.
By December 31, 2023, NHIF Chief Executive Officer Elijah Wachira informed the National Assembly Petitions Committee that the organization would end all contracts with service providers under EduAfya.
He noted that since NHIF will no longer be in place, schools would need to find a different health insurance provider.
“NHIF will have to find a new service provider by the end of the year since all of its contracts with the Ministry of Education will expire,” Wachira stated.
With the passage of the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, NHIF will be replaced by three health funds.
These are the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, and the Primary Healthcare Fund.
However, in order to allow for the hearing of a case on February 7, 2024, the court halted the execution of the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, the Primary Health Care Act of 2023, and the Digital Health Act of 2023.
According to Justice Chacha Mwita, he is convinced that Joseph Aura’s appeal presents significant legal and constitutional issues that call for immediate attention.
According to Nakhumicha, the ministry will give priority to forming the Social Health Authority, which will be in charge of overseeing the three health funds, as soon as the legal matter is resolved and the Acts are put into effect.
“We’ve had a little setback because of the court case, but I want to reassure Kenyans overall that as soon as this case is resolved, I’ll be able to roll out my plan and make sure that all Kenyans who have been paying at least Sh500 for NHIF will now only be paying Sh300,” she added.
President William Ruto blasted the judiciary on Tuesday, accusing them of working with cartels to thwart health sector reforms. This has put a halt to the execution of the three health Acts.
Blow To Students As EduAfya Medical Scheme Come To An end
