Only last week MPs were informed about the millions of shillings gobbled up by court cases challenging the implementation of the Social Health Authority.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai told the Health Committee the Ministry of Health had been forced to engage a high-profile legal team to clear the way for the rollout of the new health insurance.
And because legal eagles come at a premium, the Health Ministry has had to spend Sh142.2 million as fees.
This has in turn dented the ministry’s budget, forcing it to plead with MPs to approve a similar sum as supplementary budget to ensure health services run smoothly.
The large sum could as well have been used to pay for pressing health needs and even defray the billions the ministry owes public and private hospitals.
Since its launch in October, SHA has been inundated with operational and financial problems, with hospitals turning away patients because the new cover owes debts that have taken long to clear or patients complaining about lack of drugs.
This is just one of the many cases where the taxpayers lose millions in pointless legal rows that have to be settled in court.
If MPs developed laws that are in sync with the constitution, there would be no need for court cases.
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Quote of the day: “If I could have convinced
more slaves that they were slaves, I
could have freed thousands more.” — The
American abolitionist and social activist died on
March 10, 1913.
