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{
    "id": 1103497,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1103497/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 540,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13119,
        "legal_name": "Agnes Zani",
        "slug": "agnes-zani"
    },
    "content": "identified and their specific needs can be identified and pulled out, if there have been survivors. There needs to be some bio data and histology of these patients put out. There also needs to be provision of colostomy bags for those who are permanent users. This is where a VAT exemption of 16 per cent is to be given, so that it is zero tax rated. Madam Temporary Speaker, it also includes the purchase of palliative care products in the health budgets of all county governments. This is critical. When you put the context that most of the time when people are recovering, they have been in hospitals for the time when they are dire. Either they will be in High Dependency Units (HDU) or Intensive Care Units (ICU). However, when they leave and have to be taken care of by the parents and relatives, it becomes expensive. There are people who just even need to use diapers, for example, but these are very expensive to even maintain. Even as we speak about this issue, we have young girls, who for hygiene reasons, are not able to have monthly cycle of utilities that are needed for them. It is a provision and understanding and looking to find ways and means to address these issues within the sector. There is need to include a purchase of these in the health budgets of county assemblies and governments. Of course, county assemblies will also be critical in this in bringing legislation for the same. Madam Temporary Speaker, indeed, even the issue that Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve has brought will be something the House can propel. She can be encouraged to come up with legislation. This will call for an amendment for this specific VAT Act, 2013. Therefore, maybe within the relevant Committee and processes, we will begin to see how best this can be implemented. It is something that will give more sympathy, care, understanding and aid not only in the financial, but even the health burden for so many Kenyans. Her prayer also requests that county hospitals stock these palliative care products to enable increased access and lower commercial prices, so that everybody can have these accessible to them. Therefore, this Motion categorises those who are still in hospitals and outside. Madam Temporary Speaker, last is to engage the National Treasury and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to waive taxes on long-term health consumables such as colostomy bags, prosthesis and others in the upcoming budgetary cycle to ease the burden on Kenyans. Generally, the prayers for this Motion is to make a concerted effort and a lot of involvement from the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors (CoG), county assemblies and various levels for making this decision. This is hinged on Article 43 (1) of the Constitution that says that everybody has a right to the highest attainable standards of health. Madam Temporary Speaker, health is a devolved function as we know it and therefore under the mandate of county governments. Therefore, more action, stimulus and sympathy from the county governments. The prices for those specific colostomy bags and urostomy bags need to be identified, given out and taken care of. They need to actualise this process of giving dignity."
}