KMPDU Warns Kenyans on Privatisation of Hospitals

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Mbimji warned that the government would not be able to achieve its goals for Universal Health Care should the ongoing privatisation of Hospitals continue.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, February 8, Mbimji stated that the government could not make major decisions or changes in public facilities because many of them were partly owned by private entities.

Additionally, he noted that privatisation of health facilities barred many low-income earners from accessing quality healthcare as it led to an increase in the cost of healthcare.

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji (centre) and other officials address the media at Lake Naivasha Resort, Nakuru County on January 13, 2023.

KMPDU

“Universal Health Care as currently envisioned may only be a political dream. There must be a deliberate effort by the government to ensure that public healthcare works from the grassroots.

“As long as we are going to have a bigger section of social services getting privatised, then we are not going to have universal health care,” Mbimji stated. 

The Secretary-General further stated that many political leaders did not completely understand the situation in public hospitals because many of them seek services from private hospitals despite being mandated to spearhead the growth of public institutions. 

He suggested that the government ought to implement policies that will ensure political leaders make use of public facilities. 

“The government should have a policy where political leaders and all civil servants appreciate and get services from the public hospitals. 

“They should show that they appreciate and trust the services of the hospitals they are in charge of,” he explained.

Addressing some of the reforms done by President William Ruto in the sector, Mbinji noted that political leaders spent more money on private insurance firms instead of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

“If the government employees take more of their money to the private insurance firms, then how will we be able to grow the NHIF?” He questioned.

On January 31, President William Ruto approved plans to combine the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Linda Mama program to offer Kenyans, who have signed up for the new coverage, flexible payment plans.

Ruto stated that the move would honour his Administration’s pledge to lead the nation through a technological disruption as part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general Davji Atellah (centre) flanked by other doctors during the seventh special delegates conference in November 2022.

The Standard