Naivasha: Clinical officers in Kenya, represented by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), have announced plans to down their tools on December 23rd. This protest is in response to the exclusion of facilities accredited by the Clinical Officers Council from participating in the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) scheme. The union claims that this move by the Social Health Authority (SHA) has unfairly sidelined them, despite their previous accreditation under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
According to Kenya News Agency, KUCO, led by Chairperson Peterson Wachira, has raised concerns over the exclusion of clinical officers from conducting pre-authorizations required by law before surgeries. The union has issued a three-week ultimatum to the government to address these grievances, threatening industrial action by over 35,000 clinical officers if their demands are not met.
Wachira expressed frustration, stating, “We have been performing surgeries on our patients as the law re
quired under the NHIF. Now the SHIF has excluded our facilities from those accredited to provide services to wananchi.” The union accuses the SHA of discriminatory practices and demands the inclusion of their facilities and the restoration of pre-authorization rights for clinical officers.
Speaking at their Annual General Meeting in Naivasha, Wachira highlighted the significant role clinical officers play in the healthcare system. He noted that they provide 80% of clinical services in the country, filling gaps left by the scarcity of specialized medical doctors. The exclusion from SHIF has affected over 1,000 facilities previously registered under NHIF, which the union sees as an attempt to force them under the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ and Dentists’ Council (KMPDC).
KUCO demands that SHA publish a list of qualified clinical officers and facilities registered under the Clinical Officers Council. They emphasize the need for clinical officers to be allowed to operate within their professional scope, which
includes examining, diagnosing, and performing procedures on patients.
The SHA, established to replace NHIF, aims to deliver affordable and quality healthcare to all Kenyans. Government officials have been advocating for registration under this new system, which seeks to eliminate corruption and improve healthcare access. Despite initial challenges, the government remains committed to refining the system to ensure efficient healthcare delivery.
