The Residents of Kisumu county who registered for the Universal Health Care Coverege (UHC) pilot programme are advantaged, as they are still receiving free medical services .
The Director of Health , Mr. Fredrick Oluoch confirmed that the county was still offering access to registered memebers despite the cessation of the project in March.
Speaking on behalf of the county’s health department, the director spoke of a bilateral arrangement with the national government for the extension of the programme and emphasized on the use of available resources to fund the project in hope of getting a positive feedback.
Kisumu was among the four counties that piloted the initiative , together with Nyeri, Machakos and Isiolo, and it targeted provision of medical cover for all at an estimated cost of Sh800 million. Nearly 800,000 residents had already enlisted for membership by the close of registration last year.
“We still do not have vivid communication from the national government, hence we are not in a position to proceed with registration of new members, ” added Oluoch.
He further added that the collaboration with the National Hospital Insurance Fund ( NHIF ) purposed to identify the most vulnerable groups who had missed out on UHC and to pay for their medical insurance.
At least 45,000 people have been registered and they are getting services akin to the beneficiaries of the UHC.
