Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of complaints reported to the Council regarding medical bills charged to patients by health facilities. Between 2019 and 2023, complaints regarding medical bills accounted for 7% of all complaints reported to the Council. This situation has created the need for practitioners and health facilities to seek financial consent from patients before embarking on treatment. Informed financial consent refers to ensuring that patients fully understand the financial aspects of their healthcare services before proceeding with treatment.

This shows that informed fifnancial consent is a crucial aspect of patient management in healthcare. It ensures that patients are fully informed about the finnancial implications of any medical/dental treatment, or procedure. This includes transparent discussions about costs, insurance coverage, out-of-pocket expenses, and potential future financial consequences of the proposed treatment.

Informed financial consent is in line with the Kenya National Patient’s Rights Charter of 2013 which stipulates that every patient is entitled to receiving full and accurate information concerning their health and healthcare.

Healthcare providers should transparently disclose all potential costs associated with a particular treatment or procedure. This includes not only the cost of the medical service itself but also any ancillary services, medications, follow-up appointments, and potential complications that might incur additional expenses. It is advised that practitioners and health institutions obtain written acknowledgment from their patients, indicating that they understand the financial aspects of their healthcare on that understanding.

By ensuring that patients are fully informed about the financial aspects of their treatment, informed financial consent aims to promote transparency, empower patients to make decisions that align with their preferences and financial situation, and reduce the likelihood of unexpected financial burdens. Health institutions and practitioners should adhere to this requirement to empower patients to make informed decisions about their care, considering both medical and financial aspects.