{"id":232996,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/232996/?format=json","text_counter":93,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Dr. Machage","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister for Health","speaker":{"id":179,"legal_name":"Wilfred Gisuka Machage","slug":"wilfred-machage"},"content":" Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. November 23, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3913 (a) I am, indeed, not aware that Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital charges higher fees than private hospitals. This is because Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is a Government facility, whose budget is subsidized by the Exchequer. Indeed, when I compare the data that I have, I can give one or two examples. For out patient services, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital charges Kshs100, while private hospitals in that town charge Kshs500; Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) charges Kshs350 for the same; consultation fee in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is Kshs200 vis-a-vis Kshs500 to Kshs1500 in private hospitals and Kshs350 in the KNH. (b) I am not aware that the hospital detains patients who are unable to clear their bills upon being discharged and after death. This is because the hospital has a waiver committee in place, which identifies patients who are unable to meet their hospital bills. If established that a patient is unable to pay a bill, that bill is waived. For example, in the year 2004/2005, we spent a total of Kshs12.64 million and Kshs17.58 in the year 2005/2006 on waivers alone. (c) The hospital receives grants from the Government in the form of salaries and allowances for staff. If the details are required, I will produce them."}