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{
    "id": 1169072,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1169072/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "Nowadays, if you do not have means of seeking treatment in a private health facility, it is like you are destined to die, and that is bad. We need to rethink whether it was wise to devolve health services to counties. When you go to hospital, a doctor prescribes medicine for you. However, you are asked to buy drugs from some pharmacy out there. Often times, the medicine that is supposed to be in public health facilities is sold in private pharmacies. It is sad. In a country where people survive on less than a Dollar, the majority of Kenyans do not have money to seek for treatment in private health facilities. This is a matter that should attract the attention of everybody. I have not heard anything from our brother William. However, collectively as Kenyans, if we care about the health of our people, this is a matter that should attract the attention of those who want to ascend to the presidency of this country. I pray that when “ Baba ” becomes President after 9th August, “ Babacare ” will change the way the poor get treated in public hospitals. We have travelled to countries like Australia. The elderly who are called senior citizens receive free medical services. Even where there is a prescription for you to buy drugs because you are not able to get them in that facility, if you go to any pharmacy, you get them for free. It is the Government that will settle the bills with the owner of that pharmacy. However, in this country, we have situations where people seek alternative treatment in private hospitals and are detained. When one dies, members of their family are slapped with bills of over Kshs1 million. If you are not able to pay, the body is detained for more than three months, while some for even 60 days. We saw the deplorable situation of a health facility in Wajir County. That has pained me. I have received agonizing stories from the people I represent in Nyamira County that will move you to tears. People seek treatment for conditions that should ordinarily be addressed by the county referral hospitals. However, they do not receive services and there are also no drugs. It is a matter that pains me as somebody who benefited from public health facilities when they were under the national Government. I keep asking myself: did we make a mistake by devolving health services and was it wise? I hope that those who will be privileged to make it back to this House, including Sen. Faki who represents Mombasa County, will revisit this matter. Let us bite the bullet. The truth is that our people in the counties are not getting quality medical attention. That is the reality. Let us be honest and speak the truth. Governors are our friends but we must speak on behalf of our people by being candid and honest."
}