A mass biometric registration campaign in Kenya to enroll citizens in a health insurance scheme in Nyeri County recently ended as authorities hope to register more people for the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF ).

Nigeria, for its part, has received new mobile biometric enrollment kits as part of efforts to streamline the process of enrolling and managing subscribers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Biometric enrollment in Kenya, which began on May 31 and ended on June 5, will be extended to other parts of the country, according to a statement from the Nyeri County government seen by Biometric update.

The registration, the statement added, is in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call last year for county governments to ensure that indigent and vulnerable households are identified and biometrically registered to create a platform for easy identification and verification whenever they need to access health services. in NHIF accredited health facilities.

The biometric enrollment campaign in Nyeri targeted all vulnerable households identified and registered in December 2020 for sponsorship in the National Indigent Program, all current NHIS members as well as new members wishing to join the program. It was aimed at both adults and children of a certain age.

“NHIF’s mass biometric registration will be done nationwide. Beyond that, we are also aiming to increase the number of participations in NHIF, which in the past has seen declining numbers. We are working closely with the NHIF and we are also going to put money aside in our budget to make sure we can increase the numbers. We are looking at ways to increase the number to around 10,000 this time around so that we can have over 30,000 households benefiting from NHIF, ”County Governor Mutahi Kahiga said in a video report released by Standard.

The county government has also said it will pay the fee for low-income households.

Biometric registration for Kenya’s universal health coverage program was launched in October last year.

Biometric cards for NHIF complaints

While biometric enrollment in Kenya is underway, some proposed changes have been made to the NHIF program, including the introduction of a biometric and electronic card for complaints, Kenyans reports.

The announcement was made recently by NHIF General Manager Peter Kamunyo during an exchange with Nation media as he answered questions about what to expect from the proposed new mandatory premium service.

“The Cabinet Secretary of Health has appointed an expert panel on health financing reforms to help transform and reposition the NHIF as a strategic purchaser of health services. The implementation of the reforms is at an advanced stage: the amendment of the NHIF law is currently in Parliament, the restructuring of our human resources is well advanced and the introduction of a biometric registration and electronic management system. claims is also ongoing, ”Kamunyo said. by Kenyans as saying.

According to the proposals made by a task force set up to examine the situation, a mandatory premium of Ksh 500 (approximately USD 5) was instituted and the penalties were also increased for subscribers who obtain benefits through bogus statements, Kenya notes.

These proposed changes, according to the authorities, are intended to broaden the scope of the services offered by the NHIF.

New mobile registration kits for Nigeria

Nigeria received 37 personalized mobile biometric enrollment kits and 100 ID card printers to facilitate enrollment in the national health insurance scheme, This day reports.

Professor Mohammed Sambo, Executive Secretary of NHIS, recently received the devices and accessories for the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGFCOMSAT).

This Day cited a statement by NHIS that this move will go a long way in facilitating membership registration and management, especially in rural areas where there is no electricity.

NIGCOMSAT Deputy Director Akin Morakinyo explained that the biometric kits, which stand up to harsh environments, include a laptop, fingerprint scanner, signature pad, HD webcam, thermal printer and extra battery can operate for up to eight hours.

The move is part of efforts to move Nigeria’s e-NHIS project forward, Sambo said.

Articles topics

Africa | biometric cards | biometric identification | biometrics | digital identity | fraud prevention | health care | identity management | identity verification | Kenya | Nigeria