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{
    "id": 1237856,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1237856/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 173,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Wanjiku Muhia",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to say something on this Bill. When you listen to all of us speaking, one may somehow get lost. When drafting any Bill, Motion or any indication of any legislation, the drafter must have some ideas to table. As such, I believe that the drafter of this Amendment Bill had good intentions. What we should do is look at this amendment in depth to find out the good intention that the Mover had and build on it rather than condemn it. Firstly, we have rogue professionals in all cadres—be they legal professionals, church people, politicians or other professionals. We recently had the Shakahola horrors. I think that is the sole reason as to why the Mover of this Bill made these amendments to regulate referrals. Time and again, we have seen doctors who own hospitals and pharmacies referring patients to personal premises and hospitals. Looking at this Amendment Bill and reading it together with Section 79, there are two different issues. First, Section 79, which is being amended, speaks of the national Government Department of Health developing policy guidelines for referral mechanisms and a system of referral for practitioners of—let us underline this—traditional and alternative medicine. I very strongly oppose when Members say that this is already catered for or this regulation exists. This is because Section 79 clearly says that the national Government Department of Health shall prepare guidelines for practitioners of traditional and alternative medicine. Practitioners in medical health are not provided for. Two, is the issue of referrals. I happen to be a victim in one way or another. I do not mind saying it on the Floor of this House. One time I was expectant and I visited my gynaecologist. He had a private business and I was seeing him there. He was the head of Kiambu District Hospital then. It is one of the biggest referral hospitals in Kiambu. He referred me to a hospital under his care in Kiambu because I had a good insurance package. He took me to the theatre. The following morning he told me, “I am sorry. This scan was not as clear as we had expected. We are sorry.” That time I had gone through the theatre. Let us take this matter very seriously as Hon. Members. We are here to protect the vulnerable Wanjikus, Ochieng’s and all vulnerable people in Kenya, who cannot come to this House to seek or guide the Government on how they should be taken care of. When we talk of referrals, maybe we miss the point when we say that the issue of referrals will bring bureaucracy. I do not think that is the intention at all. The intention is to task the Cabinet Secretary because the original Section 79 speaks of the national Government Department of Health. To me, that is vague. When we speak of a Cabinet Secretary, it makes him solely responsible. Again, we also miss the point when we say that we will create bureaucracy when someone is dying and authority is needed. This amendment is not speaking of giving authority. It aims at regulating how to do referrals. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}