Health CS Susan Nakhumicha on Monday directed the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to settle all outstanding claims promptly, including those from the Linda Mama program, addressing concerns within the health sector.

Maternal and child clinics previously managed by the Linda Mama program will now be covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), indicating a significant change in coverage management.

“I have instructed NHIF to ensure that the verification process is rigorous to weed out any fraudulent claims,” the CS stated.

CS Nakhumicha emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that only legitimate and reconciled claims would be eligible for payment. NHIF was instructed to conduct a rigorous verification process to prevent fraudulent claims.

The directive was issued in response to concerns raised by various stakeholders, including Women Members of Parliament and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), highlighting the significance of addressing pending claims and financial burdens on healthcare facilities.

The move aims to ensure the continuity of essential healthcare services and uphold the country’s progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), benefiting pregnant women, infants, and healthcare providers nationwide.

The Linda Mama programme was enacted to ensure that pregnant women and infants access quality and affordable health services as a way of achieving the country’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).