Ruto: NHIF had claims for multiple amputations by same patient

President William Ruto revealed during the Kenya Health Summit that fraudulent medical claims under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) system included multiple instances of the same patient being billed for the amputation of their own legs, despite the limbs being unable to regenerate. Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Ruto criticized the NHIF system for its inefficiencies and lack of transparency, which allowed fraudulent claims, inflated bills, and payments for nonexistent procedures and patients.

He emphasized that the NHIF system was not just inefficient, but also provided opportunities for theft from vulnerable individuals. Ruto highlighted the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a step towards improving health financing and reducing fraudulent payments. Since October 2024, the SHA had received Ksh209 billion and paid out Ksh178 billion to contracted health facilities across Kenya's 47 counties.

Ruto also praised improvements in medicine supply, with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) reporting a significant increase in fill rate from 40% to 91%. However, he expressed that the ultimate goal remains at 100% and pledged to further invest in KEMSA to enhance medicine availability. Ruto underscored the significance of digital health systems in promoting transparency and accountability within the healthcare sector, stating that these systems form the backbone of the proposed reforms.