The County government of Kiambu will roll out a universal health scheme for residents on Wednesday to enjoy better healthcare.
Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi has said that residents will be registered with the NHIF and other insurance companies offering medical policies.
Speaking on Sunday at PCEA Gikambura church in Kikuyu constituency, Wamatangi acknowledged that people have suffered while looking for money for their patients.
Further, he said that once they struggle and get admitted, they continue suffering when their patient is discharged since they cannot settle the bill and end up holding a fundraiser at their homes.
He added that even if insurance companies assist families in paying such bills, some people fail to update their registered accounts due to poor income, lack of jobs and poverty.
"We have other medical insurance companies that we have spoken to and agreed to enrol our people. People will have an NHIF card and an insurance card,” he added.
Kiambu resident, Nancy Wanja, lauded the move by the Kiambu government.
“This is a very good move by our county government. It will end the fears of what will happen when a member of a poor family is admitted to a hospital,” she said.
On his part, Laban Njoroge, a resident, also urged the people of Kiambu county to secure health policies to reduce hospital bill fundraisers.
He said many health policies from different insurance companies have assisted families in paying hospital bills.
Further, some, like the National Hospital Insurance Fund and other private companies, require one to pay monthly contributions to keep the account active.
He said some people live with curable diseases because they cannot afford monthly insurance policies like NHIF.
