For freedom from poverty, universal health coverage is a must

December 12 was Universal Health Coverage Day. It was the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere. In Kenya, illness can mean financial ruin. 

Every day families are forced to sell their assets, rely on community support or see their modest life savings wiped out by medical bills. 

Ill-health is a substantial burden not only on Kenyan families, but also on the country’s economic growth.

Every year, nearly one million Kenyans are pushed below the poverty line and remain poor as a result of healthcare expenses. 

Out-of-pocket expenses at point of treatment in Kenya make up a third of the country’s total health expenditure, far above the World Health Organisation’s suggested 15 or 20 per cent. Many families are getting into poverty because they are spending their savings on health-care services.

Health insurance

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Across the globe there is a strong correlation between high rates of out-of-pocket expenses and catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditure.

It is a powerful factor in inequality of access to healthcare, often forcing the poor to forgo medical treatment. It also increases costs, because when poor people finally seek treatment it’s either too late or else complications caused by delay have worsened their condition. 

Approximately four out of every five Kenyans have no access to medical insurance, so the cruel reality is that most are just an accident or illness away from destitution.

Among the poorest quintile a mere 3 per cent have health insurance, this provided by the Government’s National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

This rises to 42 per cent of the wealthiest fifth where private cover is also more common. Additionally, there are stark disparities between rural and urban populations, where rates of coverage are an average of 12 and 27 percent respectively. 

To its credit, the Kenyan government is taking steps towards reducing these inequalities. Payments for primary and maternal health services in public facilities have been abolished, resulting in increased utilisation and improved outcomes, particularly among the poorest. Devolution of health-care provision to county governments should also ensure more efficient resource distribution, accountable health services and improvements in equity that will eventually help decongest the overstretched Referral Hospitals. 

Recent initiatives by the NHIF–such as inclusion of outpatient care and introduction of health insurance subsidies for the poor–are helping to expand coverage beyond those in formal employment.

Poverty line

But as long as 33.6 percent of Kenyans survive on less than $1.90 per day, there are still millions who cannot access quality healthcare. 

Affordability is not the only barrier. Lack of public awareness, high loss ratios due to fraud, and reluctance among insurers to underwrite cover for the poor are also important. 

There is a clear need to develop low-cost, innovative solutions for expanding insurance coverage and technology must form part of such solutions. Technology-backed automation can improve efficiency and enhance transparency. 

Mobile money can perform faster, more transparent and targeted health payments through health e-vouchers. Technology can process claims and enable healthcare consumers and providers to interact more efficiently, while offering more customized products to people of all incomes. 

Efficient storage and sharing of patient data could reduce the cost of care by, for instance, tracing false claims, preventing repeat tests, or avoiding misdiagnosis. 

Technology can also offer substantial savings in administration costs, which currently swallow a staggering 40 percent of the NHIF’s revenue, far in excess of the industry norm of 3-4 percent.

Effective IT systems would help to reduce this astonishing disparity, as would improve governance and transparency.

A lack of analytical capacity hobbles the NHIF’s ability to forecast and respond to increasing costs, hindering strategic planning and development. Better technology can address this.

Universal health

Ultimately, sustainability demands increased investment in preventive care and primary health. Better primary care reduces ill health and catches disease at an earlier stage, when treatment is cheaper and more effective. It also frees up resources to expand insurance coverage for the poor. 

Let us join hands to free every Kenyan from the tyranny of poverty by achieving universal health coverage. It is the foundation for economic development and prosperity. 

Siddharth Chatterjee is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya. Dr Githinji Gitahi is the Global CEO of Amref Health Africa.