Members of the medical association are demanding for the immediate suspension of members of the former board of directors who are still involved with the acting NHIF board of directors. The association has indicated that the permanent secretaries of medical services should be suspended.

Addressing journalists on Friday, National Chairman Kenya Medical association Dr. Elly O. Nyaim said that the presence of former members of the previous board will compromise the ongoing investigations. “These government officials should be suspended to facilitate impartial investigations into the affairs of the previous board and the NHIF management.”

Dr. Nyaim pointed out that the current composition of NHIF board is inconsistent with legal provisions and any act the caretaker board carries out may be in future be deemed to be null and void saying that the association will challenge them in court in case there demands are not met.

The Association is also demanding for the new chairman of the Kenya medical association or his authorized representative must be included in the NHIF board in order to ensure professional input from doctors.

“If any union is to be represented on the NHIF board, the Kenya Medical practitioners, pharmacists, and Dentists union (KMPDU) should be among the first to be considered,” Dr. Nyaim said.

The association has revealed that the current NHIF board has not been constituted to conform to the requirements  of the NHIF act of 1998 calling upon for its reconstitution and the act should also be reviewed in order to conform to the Kenya constitution 2010 in order to reform the organization.