Counties receive Sh7.7 billion to accommodate Universal Health Coverage employees
In a recent extraordinary council meeting held in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and governors reached an agreement on the transfer of funds for the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers.
The agreement stipulates that the money will be transferred through the Division of Revenue Allocation Act under the county's equitable sharable revenue. The national government, specifically through the National Treasury and the National Assembly, will be responsible for allocating and overseeing the transfer of funds, with final processes involving legislative approval and implementation guidelines issued by the Treasury.
The national government has allocated Sh7.7 billion for the absorption of workers under the UHC programme. The condition for this payment is that the Sh7.7 billion for the permanent and pensionable status of UHC workers be included in the next Division of Revenue Act (DORA) scheduled for next year's financial year.
The verification of UHC workers will be completed by Friday, as agreed upon in the meeting. The counties, who were supposed to absorb the UHC workers by last month but were unable to do so, will now pay these workers at the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) rates, using the money the ministry has before transitioning them to permanent and pensionable status.
Moreover, the government has agreed to roll out a Governor's Dashboard detailing payments of claims from SHA and SHIF to community facilities. This move is aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds.
Regarding ambulance services, which is a devolved function under Part 2 of the 4th Schedule of the Constitution, the rollout will be delayed to allow for consultation between the two levels of government. The Council of Governors also wants to give time for consultation on the operationalisation of ambulance services under SHA.
The Council of Governors has also called upon the Public Service Commission (PSC) to desist from approving cadre-based career progression guidelines that have a huge financial impact on county governments without the cost factored in. They believe that these guidelines could exacerbate the financial strain on county governments.
Unpaid claims from SHA and SHIF have left counties owed upwards of Sh6 billion. The agreement states that all claims should be paid by the 14th day of every month. This measure is aimed at ensuring timely payment and improved financial management at the county level.
A joint committee involving the Ministry, the Council of Governors (CoG), and the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) will meet next week to discuss the payment of UHC workers. The joint technical committee will also validate and finalize the report regarding the absorption of UHC workers by Friday.
This agreement marks a significant step towards addressing the financial challenges faced by county governments and ensuring the smooth operation of the UHC programme. The rollout of the Governor's Dashboard and the commitment to timely payment of claims are expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds, while the delay in the rollout of ambulance services allows for necessary consultations to take place.
