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{
    "id": 596156,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/596156/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 185,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Shabaan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 139,
        "legal_name": "Naomi Namsi Shaban",
        "slug": "naomi-shaban"
    },
    "content": "I am sorry. I stand guided. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Health Bill (National Assembly Bill No.14 of 2015) be now read a Second Time. The purpose of this Bill is to provide for a mechanism on how the national health policy shall be formulated, implemented and coordinated between the two levels of government, and most significantly to capture the development in technology that can positively contribute to healthcare services while curbing negative development. There is need for co-ordination among various health professions so as to harness capacity and enhance relevance of the service to the health industry. To that end, the Bill aims at establishing a national health system, whose main purpose will be to afford an enabling environment to progressively realise the right to the highest attainable standard of health; this includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive health. Indeed, this is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Article 43(1)(a) of our Constitution states that:- “Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive health care---” As it is enshrined in the Bill of Rights, this Bill comes at a time when we need to look at the laws which are being used, so that we can have a mother Bill which can put most issues which have been addressed under one umbrella. Clauses 1 and 2 of the Bill provide for the short title and interpretation provisions of the Bill. Clause 3 provides for the objects and purposes of the Bill, which include the establishment of a national health system that will encompass public and private institutions and health service providers, both at the national and county levels, and to facilitate, in a progressive and equitable manner, the highest attainable standard of health services. The Bill aims at recognising the role of statutory health regulatory bodies and distinguishes the regulatory role from the policy making function of the national Government. Clause 7 gives effect to the right to emergency medical treatment and makes it an offence for any medical institution or healthcare provider to deny any person emergency medical treatment when it has capacity to do so. Of late we have seen a patient being kept in an ambulance for 18 hours. That was just one whose family was able to reach the media. We have seen Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) carrying a burden, because all the health providers around the KNH have either failed or have chosen not to give emergency treatment. Once this Bill becomes law it will put that issue to rest, 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."
}