The transition from National Hospital Insurance Fund(NHIF) to Social Health Authority (SHA) following the roll out of SHA on Tuesday October 1 by government seems to have challenges with patients with chronic diseases already feeling the heat especially when seeking services in various private facilities.
For instance, a section of patients with Kidney complications in Nakuru and who have been seeking dialysis services in private facilities under NHIF, now say they can no longer access the same.
Addressing Journalists in Nakuru on Wednesday October 2, 2024 just a day after the roll out of SHA, the patients noted that they have visited various public facilities but they are told that they cannot access the services as NHIF no longer works and that they have to enroll for SHA.
Anthony Njuguna Njui from Lanet pointed out that he has been trying to access dialisys at Nakuru Level 5 PGH but he was told that the facility is full.
It is an issue that prompted him to seek services in a private facility in Nakuru.
However, with the roll out of SHA, he is unable to access the services.
According to him, they are being charged Ksh 9500 to access the services at private facilities, which to him is not pocket friendly, having in mind that he had paid for NHIF some months ahead.
“We are wondering with what the government wants from us especially having in mind that dialysis services are paramount for our wellness. Let the government come to our rescue,” he stated.
David Gichuki has been receiving dialysis services for the last three years, only to receive information that he cannot receive services from the private facility that he has been receiving from.
According to him, SHA system is yet to materialize making it had for them.
“If we cannot access the dialysis services, is the government trying to tell us that they are calling for our death sentence?” he stated.
Sentiments echoed by Rose Moraa from Elburgon who has a dialisys patient.
She says if the government will not acct to assist them, then it means a dark moment for dialysis patients.
Dialysis is a treatment for individuals whose kidneys are failing.
There are two types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, that both perform normal kidney functions, filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood.
When one is diagnosed with kidney failure, then kidneys don’t filter blood the way they should.
As a result, wastes and toxins build up in your bloodstream, hence dialysis does the work of your kidneys, removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
However, Dr. Joy Mugambi- the Nakuru County Director Health Administration and Planning, refuted claims that the dialisys patients’ services have been interrupted in Nakuru’s Level 5 Hospital and Naivasha Sub County Hospital.
She revealed that the County has 17 machines at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital and three functional machines in Naivasha Sub County Hospital.
In an interview on the status of Nakuru County in terms of dialysis services, Dr. Mugambi was categorical that the County has continued to make strides.
According to her, 116 sessions of dialisys per week are carried out per week at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital and 8 schedules per week in Naivasha.
In addition, onboard on ongoing process as clients keep coming.
She added that all dialysis clients who were on NHIF have shifted to the SHIF platform and no services have been interrupted.
Dr. Mugambi however noting that there has been an influx, an issue that a times interrupts the schedule hence need for extensions of services and expansion.
“There have been reports as of Tuesday that a number of dialysis patients had been turned away during the transition from NHIF to SHIF and have been seeking services in our public facilities. This requires expansion to cater for the influxes in terms of the machines we have,” she stated.
According to Dr. Mugambi, there is anticipated dream for transplant services for clients within Nakuru Level 5 Hospital as well as expansion of the machines to cater for more numbers that are coming up.
She was however quick to point out that kidney health is all about prevention and good follow up at the Primary Healthcare Facilities even as SHA comes in to ensure chronic diseases are catered for.
“We are emphasizing on early checkups and prevention. If we can manage early the better. Ensure you take your medication, follow up with your doctor so that you don’t get to the level of dialysis. Let us only be dealing with the emergencies,” she stated.
