The government has allocated KSh8.6 billion to facilitate the transition of 7,789 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers to permanent and pensionable terms.
In a statement, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the matter was discussed during a special session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Duale said the allocation, which includes statutory employer contributions, follows President William Ruto’s directive to transition the UHC workers while safeguarding health workers and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services.
The meeting also reviewed remittances of Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions by county governments and progress in settling healthcare provider claims.
According to Duale, 78 percent of healthcare provider claims across the 47 counties have been settled, amounting to KSh159.3 billion.
On legacy NHIF obligations, Duale said reconciliation and sign-off had been completed for claims of KSh10 million and below per facility for 3,526 facilities, with 3,058 facilities receiving KSh3.63 billion.
He added that a proposal to move the SHA remittance deadline from the 9th to the 25th of every month remains under consideration and has not yet been formalised or gazetted.
Duale said the government is working with the National Treasury to finalise a proposed Memorandum of Understanding while addressing the legal, administrative and systems implications.
He said continued cooperation between the national and county governments will be critical to advancing the Taifa Care agenda and ensuring predictable healthcare financing and uninterrupted access to quality healthcare.