Chronically-ill National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) covered patients are now required to pay upfront annual premium contributions before receiving treatment in a directive that could see thousands across the country turned away at hospitals.
Patients visiting health centres for costly procedures such as diagnostic tests, dialysis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions as well as those undergoing minor and major surgeries have in recent months been forced to pay upfront premium contributions as a pre-condition for the national insurer to foot their bills.