Towards Universal Health Coverage
The Kitui County Health Insurance Cover (KCHIC) also known as the Universal Health Coverage was launched in Kitui by Governor Charity Ngilu on August 21, 2018. The cover sought to offer affordable healthcare to an estimated 270,000 households making Kitui the second county after Makueni to offer her residents free healthcare in the country. Through the cover, residents only pay an annual subscription fee of sh.1000 to benefit from numerous services offered by the county government through this program in all 14 level hospitals and 56 other health centers.
The programme has transformed the health sector in the county as residents are accessing high quality health services in all public health facilities without extra medical costs. KCHIC seeks to liberate Kitui residents from sickness and disease – thus leading the county towards realizing a healthy and productive society. The Universal Healthcare Programme continues to reduce the disease burden among residents and seeks to eliminate the burden of hospital bills and also realize productivity among the county’s high population. better
The County leadership has ensured timely stocking of drugs and other essentials in all health facilities since their demand increases with subsidized medical care. The County Health Insurance Cover (KCHIC) came after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the county government and a national consortium of medics VIRION health limited that brings a pool of medical specialists to offer advanced medical consultancy and treatment in the county’s top facilities. The idea is dubbed ‘porting health’ with the specialists pooled from various specialties among them cardiologists, pediatricians, radiotherapists and neurosurgeons.
The County Ministry of Heath procured hospital equipment as part of the County Government’s commitment to attain improved services and provide the resources required to make healthcare provision robust and sustainable as intended under the County’s Health Insurance Cover. The move is part of the continuous developments by Governor Ngilu to better the health sector and ensure quality healthcare services to all residents.
In July 2018, Governor Ngilu released 322 new health recruits into the workforce to serve in various health facilities in the county. The County health reforms have seen more drugs in hospitals and modernization of the hospital’s outpatient departments. The County Referral facility has been equipped with a CT scan with complementary machines to ensure patients will access quality services at an affordable fee. National Government Health CS Sicily Kariuki on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 promised to allocate a radiologist at the county’s top facility to boost service delivery.
The UHC launch in July last year was graced by Health CS Sicily Kariuki, Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Governors Profs. Kivutha Kibwana and Onyang’ Nyong’o who represented Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the then County commissioner Samuel Kimiti, MPs Kennedy Musyoka (EALA) Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Dr. Ouma Oluga and Members of the Kitui County Assembly amongst other local leaders.
