Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) chairman Francis Atwoli has called on all workers to go on strike beginning 14th of May. The strike is in protest over the new payment rates proposed by National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). Atwoli was speaking at the celebration of this years’ International Labor Day celebrations.

COTU had earlier gone to court in a bid to block NHIF from implementing the new rates but the court threw out COTU’s move.
NHIF announced in April that it would start implementing the new rates in June. The new tariff seeks to replace the standard Shs. 320 per person per month with contributions ranging from Shs 150 a month for people earning Shs 5,999 and below to Shs 2,000 a month for those earning Shs 100,000 and above per month.

The NHIF tariff will enable all contributors to access comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services regardless of the contribution made. The current NHIF scheme takes care of outpatient occurrences only.

Also Read: New NHIF Tariff Takes Effect in June.