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{
    "id": 22819,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/22819/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to support this Motion and, indeed, congratulate my friend the Minister for Medical Services for the good work that the Ministry is performing in this country. Despite the many challenges that the Ministry faces, we know that they have done a commendable job and the congratulations of this House should go to the Minister and the staff of the Ministry. Having said that, I want to point out certain concerns that the public has in respect to the services of this Ministry. First, the practice of public hospitals withholding bodies - and the Minister has just mentioned this - I think this is not only irresponsible but it is also inhuman. Many Kenyans are struggling in poverty and when they visit public hospitals they do that without any money. When they die, I think it is only fair that the bodies of these poor people be released. As I speak, Kenyatta National Hospital which is very notorious for this practice is holding no less than two bodies of my constituents for a long time now and has refused to release them. Therefore, I want to appeal to the Minister to intervene and ensure that these bodies are released forthwith. Not only bodies are withheld by public hospitals but we know that patients who have been treated have been made to stay in the hospital even when they have recovered because they cannot afford to pay fees. We have also seen mothers who have delivered being denied the chance to go home with their babies because they have not paid fees. Therefore, the Minister must give a clear directive to public hospitals to release bodies, mothers who have delivered and patients who have recovered but cannot afford hospital bills."
}