The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) is opposed to the section of amendments proposed to theNHIF regulations mooted by President William Ruto.
During the Labour Day celebrations, President Ruto announced that once the changes are approved, salaried persons will be obligated to contribute 2.75 percent of their gross monthly salaries to the fund.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, in a statement to newsrooms, noted that the State cannot claim to increase NHIF funding by adding on to the premiums when the agency is already severely under-funded.
“The national and county governments have directed over Ksh.120 billion annually from NHIF to private insurance companies. This applies to Parliamentary Service Commission, State officers and all county governments who all have private insurances,” he said.
“Civil servants’ medical allowance was removed from payslip to cover NHIF comprehensive services. And now without a medical allowance or salary increases, we cannot subject ourselves to extractive action on workers’ payslip.”