November 30, 2024

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has raised serious concerns regarding the exclusion of accredited facilities from offering healthcare services under the newly implemented Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). This decision is said to disadvantage clinical officers who have historically provided essential services within the country.

With the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHIF, the union has expressed deep dissatisfaction, alleging that the Ministry of Health has sidelined them in the roll-out process. Facilities licensed by the Clinical Officers Council have been omitted from the list of accredited healthcare providers, which has created a significant gap in service delivery.

Union Chairperson Peterson Wachira articulated the concerns shared by over 35,000 clinical officers, emphasizing that their role has been crucial in performing surgeries and other clinical services in their accredited facilities under the previous NHIF structure.

“We have been performing surgeries on our patients as the law required under the now-defunct NHIF and our duly registered facilities were also providing services under NHIF without any disputes. Now, the newly introduced SHIF has excluded our facilities from the accreditation list required to provide services,” stated Wachira.

The KUCO union has issued a three-week ultimatum to the Government to address this oversight. If the situation is not rectified, clinical officers plan to strike on December 23 to advocate for the recognition of their rights and roles within the healthcare system.

Wachira highlighted that clinical officers contribute significantly to the healthcare sector, stating, “Specialized medical doctors in the country are not enough, and the bulk of medical services are provided by clinical officers. For instance, we have only five trained dermatology doctors in the country, while there are over 150 clinical dermatologists filling this gap.” He pointed out that clinical officers who are trained in various specialties have been managing patient care effectively, but the new regulations require unnecessary pre-authorization processes that delay critical medical procedures.

KUCO asserts that more than 1,000 healthcare facilities owned by clinical officers that were previously registered under NHIF are now excluded from SHIF. This exclusion is viewed as a direct conflict of interest and a systematic approach to compel clinical officers to register with the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ and Dentists’ Council (KMPDC).

The union demands immediate action, requiring the Social Health Authority (SHA) to publish a list of qualified clinical officers as well as details of all clinical officer-owned facilities registered under the Clinical Officers Council. They insist that clinical officers should be permitted to diagnose, prescribe treatments, and perform medical procedures based on their training and the legal framework governing the medical profession.

KUCO’s establishment stems from the need to represent and advocate for clinical officers’ rights and welfare in Kenya. Recognizing the integral role that clinical officers play within the healthcare landscape, the union serves as a cohesive body for these professionals, all of whom are licensed and regulated by the Clinical Officers Council.

The SHA, which has replaced the NHIF, aims to ensure accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for all Kenyans. This transformative health initiative is intended to provide a comprehensive benefit package that addresses the needs of the population without discrimination.

To ensure the success of the new health initiative, Government officials are encouraging citizens to register under this comprehensive health system while also striving to eliminate the corruption that previously plagued NHIF operations. Such malpractices resulted in significant financial losses and compromised the quality of healthcare services.

The ongoing dialogue between healthcare stakeholders continues, as the KUCO union presses for the recognition of clinical officers’ rights in the evolving healthcare framework.