Policy & Regulations
Cancer patients woos as KNH doubles radiotherapy fees
Kenyatta National Hospital ( KNH ), the region ’ s largest referral hospital in August , doubled fees paid by cancer patients seeking radiotherapy services . According to the hospital , the increment in charges was in line with its annual fiscal review , which requires it to revise its charges .
Officials at the hospital that serves patients from across the East African region argued that the revision was in addition instigated by the need to implement the National Hospital Insurance Fund ’ s ( NHIF ) benefits scheme where the insurer pays about Sh18,000 per week for NHIF patients .
Radiotherapy machine at the Kenyatta National Hospital Cancer Treatment Center ( CTC )
Prior to the revision of the radiotherapy charges , patients paid Sh500 per session . A typical patient needs up to 25 sessions , meaning that on average they would spend Sh12,500 for this treatment . However , from September 1 , these charges doubled with a session costing Sh1,000 for a non-NHIF patient ( translating to Sh25,000 ), which many patients say they cannot afford .
30 November-December 2016