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{
    "id": 1110349,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1110349/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 827,
        "legal_name": "Godana Hargura",
        "slug": "godana-hargura"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I would like to thank Sen. (Dr.) Ali for coming up with these amendments to the Health Act. First of all, health is a devolved function. We know very well we have a system of governance where we have two levels. The Constitution in Article 6 (2) clearly states that the Government at the national and counties are distinct and interdependent and shall conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation. I believe this is a case of cooperation in terms of delivery of health services to Kenyans in all parts of this country. We know very well that health is a shared function in the sense that policy is a national Government function. The provision of services at the national referral health facilities is also a national Government function. However, the county health services function is a county government function. So, it is a shared function. This is where the staff whose welfare is being addressed by these amendments fall. Madam Temporary Speaker, healthcare staff are employed at the county level. We know very well that is part of the mandate of the County Public Service Board (CPSB) but there is need to have standards. Training as it has been said, is standardised and Kenyan health workers are trained to very high levels. That is why they can easily move to other countries especially in the commonwealth to get employment. However, remuneration has been an issue and that is why we always have strikes by the health workers. In ensuring that the healthcare standards are uniform across this country or as uniform as possible, we have staff who are being trained at the same level. They are capable of providing the same level of service across this country. However, the other aspect is the infrastructure. Do we have the same health infrastructure across this country? We do not have. When you say we do not have specialists in Marsabit County, the question is, do you have that facility where a specialist can come and operate? If it is not there then you cannot have a specialist there. Madam Temporary Speaker, the next issue is how we make sure that we have almost the same level of infrastructure across the country. One way of addressing that issue has been the issue of Managed Medical Equipment (MES) which to some extent some facilities which were not available across this country were provided through the medical equipment leasing scheme which has its own problems. Where the equipment has been put to use, it has improved the level of services in those areas. We must also address that aspect of provision of proper infrastructure and"
}