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{
    "id": 1237884,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1237884/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 201,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kamukunji, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Yusuf Hassan",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 398,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
        "slug": "yusuf-hassan-abdi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this particular Bill. I oppose it on the grounds that successive governments in Kenya have failed to provide health services to Kenyans. As a result, our health services are not adequate, affordable and of the quality that is required to deal with the health challenges that we have in our country. Kenyans struggle daily with poor medical services and facilities, and exorbitant medical charges and costs. That is the problem that is sending thousands of Kenyans to their early deaths. That is the crisis that we have. This particular amendment Bill is just an indictment of the terrible health conditions and medical situation in our country. This is a well-meaning Amendment Bill from Hon. Didmus Barasa, but it is not a problem that you solve through legislation, which is a knee-jerk reaction to a deeper ailment that is afflicting our health services. To a certain extent, some of the things he suggests in the Bill could be done by the Ministry of Health through policies and regulations. Internal referrals can be done with legislation. We cannot legislate on everything. I am surprised that he includes external referrals. I wonder under what legislation or international agreement the Government can regulate referrals outside the country. I have already said that, in fact, the first problem is inadequate healthcare infrastructure. That is what we should emphasise as legislators. We should provide more money so that more Kenyans can have access to basic health facilities such as hospitals and clinics. We also need to address the shortage of health workers like doctors, nurses and midwives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Kenya provides only less than half of the required medical 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."
}