Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago. /FILE
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has proposed that the medical cover for all Members of Parliament and civil servants while recommending their enrollment to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking during a church service at AIC Fellowship Annex in Eldoret on Sunday, the senator advocated for the transition of medical benefits to SHA system adding that this would help address the challenges the system has been facing in the recent past.
The health sector has been grappling with myriad of challenges over the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) system to SHA due to reported issues surrounding system failure.
But Mandago says that incorporating MPs' cover into SHA would ensure the quality of healthcare in the country is improved.
He defended the proposal on the grounds that it would help shame the critics and especially the leaders who repeatedly criticised the system over its reported failures and those proposing reversion to NHIF.
“Because a few leaders want to downplay what the government is doing with SHA, I have thought of a very radical decision. That we remove medical cover for all parliamentarians, and civil servants and we all enroll for SHA,” Mandago said.
He pledged to continue supporting the government’s efforts to achieve sustainability while also appealing to President William Ruto to stay focused and not be swayed by critics.
Members of Parliament enjoy a comprehensive medical insurance scheme, which extends to their immediate family members with considerable benefits totalling Sh10.65 million annually.
This includes inpatient cover of Sh10 million an outpatient cover of Sh300,000 annually, maternity benefits of Sh150,000 per year, dental and optical cover of Sh100,000 each per year and funeral cover amounting to Sh100,000.
The benefits extend to treatment arising from political instability on events of violence, war, coup and terrorism.
