Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia has expressed his dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage under the Social Health Authority among Persons with Disabilities, the old and the indigents.
Speaking at the PCEA Muhito church in Mukurwe-ini during celebrations to mark international day for Persons with Disabilities, Kaguchia wondered why the vulnerable were still struggling to access medical services despite campaign pledges by the current administration that higher contributions by high income earners would help subsidize healthcare for all Kenyans.
He said that it is appalling to see that PWDs are being unfairly asked to pay a full-year’s SHA subscription before accessing medical care.
“As an MP, I am parting with Sh38,000 every month as SHA contribution. The campaign pledge was that the goal of migrating to a new healthcare scheme was for the those with higher pay to contribute more to the scheme and support the vulnerable who include the elderly and the PWDs. But I am surprised to learn that PWDs are being asked to pay a whole year’s contribution so that they can receive treatment,” said Kaguchia.
The MP noted that SHA collects more than Sh6 billion every month as contributions from Kenyans. He however noted that many PWDs cannot access routine medical check-ups, essential medication and assistive devices despite the government collecting sufficient resources to afford the PWDs and the indigents free medical cover. He said the situation was so dire to the extent that the vulnerable are resorting to holding fundraisers to afford healthcare.
“These people who need catheters, drugs and medical attention in our hospitals but as we speak they continue to suffer under SHA and that is why I want to ask the government to release all the money that we are paying to help the vulnerable and poor in society and make sure they get treated for free as envisioned in the manifesto. In fact, all PWDs should be issued with fully paid up medical cover from SHA,” said the MP.
Kaguchia has also appealed to the government to eliminate the unnecessary bureaucracies that have continued to lockout the PWDs from the cash transfer programme. He said PWDs should automatically be included in the programme same as the elderly.
And while calling for proper budgeting to ensure that the welfare of PWDs is taken care of, the MP further argued that the Kenyan taxpayer is contributing enough taxes to support the PWDs.
“The budget that is required to take care of the PWDs through the cash transfer programme is so little as compared to the money that the government is spending on luxury and unnecessary expenditure. If this money was taken and given to PWDs, these people will be able to afford decent life because many of them cannot afford decent living yet this is one of the things that should be prioritized,” he said.
He at the same time criticized the government for failing to fully implement laws protecting PWDs adding that the continued neglect has subjected them to unnecessary suffering despite the existing legislative guidelines.
“As representatives of the people we have performed our legislative mandate and passed numerous laws in the country including those that touch on the welfare of the PWDs.
But the government has failed to implement them and that is why these people are still faced with numerous challenges,” said Kaguchia.
By Wangari Mwangi & Samuel Mwangi
