[kictanet] NHIF & HOSPITALS

[Ali Hussein]

Patrick

Thanks. Your experience not withstanding I think the inconsistencies of serving customers across the hospital network is the main issue. Who  is responsible in ensuring that there is a standardized way of dealing with NHIF deductions across the hospital network? Are you satisfied with having to wait for 'less than an hour' for your issue to be sorted out? 

I'm glad that you agree that Records Portability is an urgent issue. Anyone on this list from NHIF? KICTB any comments? 

In recent newspaper articles there has been alot said about an eHealth Policy for Kenya. A cursory google search gave me nothing. I would appreciate if any one  can share a document of this nature.

Meanwhile I have tried to get some information on the systems at NHIF to try and figure out what they are doing. This is the closest I got on what they are doing. It is abit outdated. 

http://www.hidglobal.com/documents/casetudy_nhif_kenya_en.pdf

Bottom line is that some systems programmer is case studying the technology of printing plastic cards and how they have reduced fraud. I applaud them for that. No other information is available.

In the healthcare space there are two ways to pay for services. 

1. Through insurance
2. Out of pocket - which means exactly that. 
3. The third way of course is free healthcare services which the govt. sometimes provides and NGOs.

There are times that 1 and 2 coincide where health insurance providers have capitation policies or exclusions (for example some chronic illnesses will be excluded, pregnancies etc).

I'm curious how many times one is forced to not  claim his NHIF deductions because of the convulated process? if my experience is the exception rather than the rule then I will accept this as part of the process since no system can be 100% full proof.

Ali Hussein

+254 773/713 601113

Sent from my iPhone®

On May 20, 2012, at 12:30 AM, Patrick Mwangi Karanja <mutuota at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Dear Ali, 
> 
> I appreciate the feedback and empathize with you. 
> 
> It so happens my experience was different, having been in hospital a week ago at MP Shah. NHIF was very helpful, they simply asked for my card, looked up in their system and detected my contributions were being directed to the wrong account given my National I.D number and NHIF number. In less than an hour they had sorted my account and allowed discharge and payment. 
> 
> The above notwithstanding, I agree with you records portability is a key issue and to add my one cent to your idea the project of digitizing the Registrar of Persons would be a key place to start and integrate into the national health system. 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Patrick M. Karanja
> 
> From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
> To: mutuota at yahoo.com 
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 3:09 PM
> Subject: [kictanet] NHIF & HOSPITALS
> 
>> Listers
>> 
>> Is there anyone out there on this list who can explain to me why one needs to produce a full year's receipts to get your NHIF deduction from Hospital? 
>> 
>> This makes a  none sense of all the strides we have made in the ICT space and especially in the govt. sector.   
>> 
>> Instead of NHIF embarking on grandiose projects can they first at least create a portal and a mobile app for hospitals and patients to access and check their account status? Surely this is something one young techie sitting at ihub can do with her eyes closed!
>> 
>> A few days ago I went through a convoluted process at Aga Khan Hospital discharging my dad and losing an argument about NHIF deductions and the hospital insisting on Physical receipts of proof of payment!! Surely...
>> 
>> Two weeks ago there was an interesting debate on eHealth. I suggested that focus needs to be on some low hanging fruits and quick wins. I suggest that Records Portability is one of them. It will not only save money and time but also reduce high blood pressure :)
>> 
>> In the spirit of not just criticizing but offering solutions too  how can we ensure smooth and seamless interaction between NHIF and the hospitals. Or may be KICTB can take this up? 
> 
> 
> Ali Hussein
> 
> +254 773/713 601113
> 
> Sent from my iPhone®
> 
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> 
> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mutuota%40yahoo.com
> 
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
> 
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
> 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20120520/452a1a39/attachment.htm>