SOURCE: KBC
The government has released 1.4 bilion shillings to support provision of free maternity services in public health centres across the country.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia says the Free Maternity and Health Sector Services Fund will be channeled to the County Revenue Account for direct transmission to the individual facilities.

In a statement sent to newsrooms by the ministry of health and signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Dr.James Macharia, the government says it has realeased a total of 1.7 billion shilings to the county Revenue Account.

The funds include 1.48 billion shilings for free maternity fund and 219 million shilings for primary level facilities. While underscoring the significance of the fund the government noted that the free maternity programme has seen the proportion of mothers delivering in health facilities increase from 44 percent to 66 per cent.

Health facilities are reimbursed based on deliveries done in the primary heathcare level facilities which is 2,500 shilings per delivery.

Deliveries done in level 4 and level 5 hospitals cost 5,000 shilings per delivery while those done at level 6 hospitals cost 17,500 per delivery. The news is also a relief to County governments which have been lamenting delay in disbursing the funds.

Last week the government released 220 million shilings to the Health Sector Services Fund with the Health CS saying 4.3 billion shilings would be available in the 2015/2016 financial year to support counties offer Free Maternity Services.

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