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{
    "id": 607135,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/607135/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 224,
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    "content": "we are now rushing to cure, the hospitals we are rushing to build and all these equipment that we are investing in, if this money could be directed more towards the preventive aspect, we will have a healthier nation faster. We will be able to control various diseases and eradicate some of them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the issue of research and development cannot be over-emphasized in matters health because right now, the research that takes place in the field of health in this country is done by donors. We do not know to whose interest. Obviously, all scientific research is for the common good, I would not like to water down that part. However, I think that it is very important that if the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) could get more allocation so that research in health is done by Kenyans for the interest of Kenyans rather that KEMRI, which is attached to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). It is an appendage of CDC because it is getting funding from the donors. More finances are coming from USAID, Japan and other donors. Our own commitment to research is wanting. We need to invest in research. We have very competent scientists who can contribute to disease control through research and new findings. I would like to talk about staff and drug supply in the health sector where there is a lot of hue and cry among the health workers. Somehow, the devolution of the health function to the counties took place in a parachute form where we woke up one day and we just devolved health. That obviously was a good thing and we had to move with it. Devolution is with us and is inevitable but we now need to manage the repercussions that go with this. For example, the staff welfare is in jeopardy. I am fully aware that while all health staff - doctors, nurses or clinical officers - are now being paid under the payroll of the counties, their files are with Afya House. All the files of all health workers, while they are employees of the county governments, all their personal files that were used for promotion and to programme for their leave, are still at Afya House. We talked with the Principal Secretary for Health and he gave a very genuine assurance that they had started giving these files out and they saw some of them being eaten by goats in the counties because the counties do not have human resource departments that are capable. On the issue of leasing, I would like to say that until now as you see in the newspapers and I have even met some of the governors, there is still a lot of dissatisfaction and we need to come in. We have offered as the Committee on Health, to sit and we have set a date with some of the governors and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance Commerce and Budget to sort out this matter. However, it is very important for these machines to work, both parties at the national and county level be in agreement as soon as possible and put in place structures and personnel to run these equipment, so that they do not become white elephants because they cost a whooping Kshs38 billion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the issue of health insurance is a major concern in this country. We know that there is a lot of inequity; there are many people who cannot access quality health care because up to now, we charge for it. There is a very small charge and the quality of health care is still very poor. The Constitution and the health policy document 2014-2030 stresses on the creation of the National Social Health The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}