The government's refusal to reimburse Catholic-sponsored mission hospitals is impeding operations in establishments that would have offered relief to patients unable to pay private hospitals. As public hospital services come to a standstill, patients' options are becoming increasingly limited.
According to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Pending National Health Insurance Funds (NHIF) claims totaling Ksh. 2 billion have seriously hindered operations throughout the facilities.
"Faith based hospitals are owed huge amounts by NHIF, amounting to over Ksh.2 billion. The effect is that most of our hospitals are crippled, and not able to operate optimally," KCCB Vice Chair, Bishop Anthony Muheria, said in a press address on Thursday.
"And therefore we demand the government to promptly pay NHIF debts owed to all facilities that have provided medical services under NHIF before the transition."
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The clergy also demanded an immediate resolution to the ongoing healthcare crisis that the striking doctors had caused, claiming that it was causing defenseless Kenyans immense suffering.
They also advised the medical professionals not to use patient lives as leverage in negotiations with their employers.
"The life of a human person should never be used as a bargaining currency. Every life is worth more than any financial or employment gain. We urge the government on one hand and medics on the other to seek a working arrangement that does not put the lives of Kenyans at risk, so lives are not at risk during the industrial action," said Muheria.
The majority of Kenyans, the Catholic bishops pointed out, are barely making ends meet, and they condemned the high cost of living that has been made worse by higher taxes.
"On several occasions we have addressed the issue of over taxation and the cost of living. The reality of ordinary Kenyans s that they are struggling financially," added Muheria.
"We have urged and continue to encourage the govt to improve public participation in assessing its tax regime. We should not intend to raise billions in a short span at the cost of great stress to Kenyans."
They also criticized the government for what seemed to be a disrespect for the church's opinion when it came to issues that affected the community, calling religion an essential component of any healthy society.
