New law orders all doctors to slash medical fees, here are the new rates

ruby orimba

November 29, 2018 10:54 AM

The new law sets cheaper rates for various medical procedures and medical services

Kenyan doctors during a past protest along Hospital Road

The National Assembly Health Committee has enacted a law that will see the cost of various medical procedures and services drastically reduced.

Led by Murang'a Woman Respresentative Sabina Chege, Health CS Sicily Kariuki has been instructed to oversee the adoption of the Professional Fees Rules and Guidelines of 2006 to replace the current Medical Practitioners and Dentists Rules 2016.

"The ministry, KMPDB and Pharmacy and Poisons Board must review within six months, reasonable Professional Fees Rules and Guidelines, Regulations on cost of service of medical services and drugs in general, costing of healthcare, with a view of ensuring that all fees are in tandem with the UHC (Universal Health Coverage) agenda.

"This should be done with proper consultations and public participation," a report form Sabina's committee read in part.

ece-auto-gen

The 2016 rules were gazetted by former CS Cleopa Mailu, however, Sabina's team has reversed the laws and reverted to teh 2006 rules in a move that will see current medical fees slashed by half.

The New Medical fees Rates

General practitioners will now be allowed to only charge a maximum of Sh2,500 down from Sh5,000 while specialist doctors are now allowed to charge a maximum of Sh4,000 consultation fee down from Sh7,500.

Mothers will pay a maximum of Sh40,000 for an assisted normal delivery, a drop from Sh96,000 while management of an ectopic pregnancy will be pegged at Sh80,000 down from Sh144,000.

The committee noted that the current rates are out of touch with reality.

They justified the new rates saying that they will discourage doctors from opening their own practices for profit and ensure high quality services at public health facilities.

ece-auto-gen

"Deterioration of health services offered at public hospitals provided private profiteers with the opportunity to overcharge Kenyans.

"There was thus an urgent need to improve the quality of service delivery in public hospitals to provide affordable healthcare to the public, in turn driving down prices in private facilities," the committee report outlined in part.

ruby orimba