The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has terminated its contract with Meridian and Clinix and circulated a new list of health facilities where civil servants will seek services.

Officials said yesterday the fund is in the process of publishing the list of the health facilities where civil servants and members of the disciplined forces will seek health services.

A senior official at NHIF said yesterday they were in the process of publishing the list in the dailies, saying the current one in circulation is not conclusive.

“What you may have seen is not conclusive and authoritative but as early as next week, we will through our agencies give you the new list of service providers,” said a senior official at the fund.

NHIF has disqualified Clinix and Meridian, saying the two are under investigation. Patients have been advised to seek services at alternative institutions until the investigations are concluded.

Another top officer at NHIF said the contracts of both Clinx and Meridian have been terminated.

“Members are advised to continue accessing OPC services in the currently capitated facilities for the next one month. However, for those who are currently accessing outpatient health care services at Meridian and Clinix , they are directed to seek health care in any of the facilities listed.”

The Union of Kenya Civil Servants has raised a red flag over the list of new providers, accusing NHIF of implementing the scheme without following the law.

NHIF was supposed to advertise the tender and pre-qualify providers, from which it will publish all the prequalified facilities for the civil servants to choose from. “It has come to our notice that the period for choosing has commenced and the list of health-care providers and their facilities will be advertised in due course,” UKSC executive director Wilson Asingo said in a letter to NHIF on June 8.

The union warns that existing providers’ contracts cannot be cancelled as their members in Nairobi were already dealing with them.

“Our members are desirous that all facilities that are currently are in your panel are included. Currently our members in Nairobi are being served by the two private providers namely Clinix and Meridian.

It is therefore of utmost importance that all accredited branches of the two main providers named above be included in the list to be published in the dailies alongside all the others,” the letter adds.

But officials at the fund said their move was in order and have promised quality services. The fund is now being run by a caretaker committee as investigations continue.

By CYRUS OMBATI, The Standard

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