Three insurance providers have ceased services at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital after claims of bill inflation emerged.
The firms, AAR, CIC and Old Mutual have given out statements suspending their insurance services and advising their customers to seek medical services in other facilities in their panel.
A series of WhatsApp messages were leaked on what appears to the management WhatsApp group showing how the hospital set daily targets for the number of patients they should be admitted in a day.
The WhatsApp chats show that the revenue, commissions, admissions and discharge numbers were being actively monitored hourly, every day, and day and night by the chief executive officer, Dr. Felix Wanjala.
The WhatsApp group named Team Nakuru Hyrax shows messages of the Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Nakuru CEO Dr.Felix Wanjala ordering the doctors to increase the numbers, “Team we are starting on very bad numbers, lock discharges”.
We bring to your attention that we have suspended services at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital and all its branches for all our members due to operational challenges. The operation takes effect from 5th February 2020,” read a statement by the AAR Insurance.
CIC Insurance Group also issued a statement and cited administrative concerns in the suspension of services at the hospital.
“Due to some administrative concerns, we wish to notify you that the services at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital will be suspended from February 5 ,2020,” read part of the statement by CIC.
Old Mutual, on the other hand, said cash payments to the facility would not be reimbursable.
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Tom Gichuhi, the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) chief executive said that the underwriters held a meeting on Monday evening and resolved to take the drastic measure.
“Medical insurance underwriters met and resolved not to deal with the facility in the future. By Tuesday it had not been actualized, but I am certain that it will happen,” he said.
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