[kictanet] NHIF & HOSPITALS

Sun May 20 19:47:49 EAT 2012

Yes, I had a card. Are you saying that the process is easy? Were you able to get info online? You didn't  have to produce physical receipts? If this is the case then I guess my beef is with Agakhan Hospital not NHIF..

The point of Records Portability though still remains a valid one,

Regards    

Ali Hussein

+254 773/713 601113

Sent from my iPhone®

On May 20, 2012, at 3:59 PM, Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa at googlemail.com> wrote:

> Hi Ali,
> 
> Did you have an NHIF card? If you didnt then it could explain.
> 
> However my experience at Karen Hosp was the same as Patrick's and the whole process was easy.
> 
> I am not sure if its a case of another hospital having inconsistencies?
> 
> My thoughts
> 
> On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 7:10 AM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
> 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 It is abit outdated.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®
>> 
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> 
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> 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.
> 
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> 
> -- 
> "One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years you'll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do." Earl Nightingale1921-1989
> 
> Oloo Khisa
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