Kenya bans hospitals from demanding upfront payments
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Capital FM
Kenya’s Parliament has passed a bill banning hospitals from demanding payment before emergency care and withholding bodies over unpaid bills. Public facilities could face fines of up to 3 million shillings, according to Capital FM.
Kenya’s National Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill banning healthcare facilities from demanding payment before providing emergency care. The bill also bans hospitals and mortuaries from withholding the bodies of deceased patients to secure payment of unpaid bills, according to Capital FM.
The Health (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Kirinyaga MP Jane Njeri Maina, was approved at third reading on 11 November. Public facilities that demanded payment before emergency care could face a fine of up to 3 million Kenyan shillings, while public officials authorising or facilitating the withholding of bodies could face up to 2 million shillings.
Jane Njeri Maina said demands for deposits before treating seriously ill patients infringed on the constitutional right to health. She cited the case of Kelvin, a former medical student who died in a road accident, whose body was allegedly held for nearly a year at a funeral home because of a bill of 1.42 million shillings.
The MP also cited the case of Caroline Nthangu Tito, whose body was allegedly withheld at Mater Misericordiae Hospital over unpaid bills.
