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{
    "id": 748364,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/748364/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 186,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "the first time has an African elected as the Director, that would be the rule. We agreed on the need to vet the Director-General because he or she holds such an important role in the country and the people’s representative in Parliament should have a hand in his/her appointment. There shall be established in Clause 19 in respect to every county a county executive department responsible for health. This has been done and structures have been put in place. Various counties have done them according to what they feel. It is important as a country that we have a uniform way of coming up with structures so that deliveries can be done everywhere. Clause 46 is on the Health Human Resource Advisory Council and its board. In my mind, it is the absence of this structure that is responsible for the strikes that we have had in the health sector and the prolonged strike that we had. Health is complex with a variety of over 40 cadres with various schemes of service and training needs. Therefore, having them being managed differently across the country in various counties will promote a situation where some will do well while others will not. To have one body that looks at how they are trained and recruited, how they get further training, how they retire and how they are remunerated is extremely important. This is something that would have probably been done by a commission in the Constitution. We understand that it was discussed during the promulgation of the Constitution but it was said that it could be done administratively. This Bill attempts to do that. I am just mentioning a few areas. The other area I want to touch on is the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight. As I said, there are numerous cadres and each cadre has---If you can remember, I have brought Bills to this House. We have, at least, 20 Acts relating to health and regulating the health profession. Obviously, there need to have an oversight body that will coordinate all of them. Again, the Senate was not keen on this but eventually, when we discussed this, we agreement that that is really necessary. Procurement is an extremely important aspect of health systems. Standards need to be met in the procurement of drugs, known pharmaceuticals and equipment. Therefore, to put in law that it must be according to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act is important even if it looks repetitive. The suggestion that the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) be the first institution of call was not agreed upon. We eventually agreed that maybe counties should not be forced to only purchase from KEMSA. Another area is that of the Mental Health Act. In Clause 73, we were proposing that there should be a law. We were just proposing a law. Mental health is extremely complicated. Many people, particularly important people will be mentally ill for a long time but nobody will dare take them for treatment. We need an Act that ensures that they are treated. The issue of delegated authority including the regulation of fees that are charged in health facilities was important, and we agreed on that. In the First Schedule on the classification of levels, we had to classify the facilities functionally not only in public services but even in private services."
}