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{
    "id": 812876,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812876/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Article 43 of the Constitution provides that every person has a right to the highest attainable standard of healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare and further; that a person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment. The Health Act No.21 of 2017 defines emergency treatment as necessary immediate healthcare to prevent death or worsening medical situation. The Act asserts the right to emergency medical treatment including pre-hospital care and the duty for all healthcare providers whether in the public or private sector to provide such emergency treatment. Sadly, emergency medical care in Kenya has remained under-developed and under-equipped. Many Kenyans die every day for lack of prompt and quality emergency medical services. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, to begin with, there is the issue of lack of adequate specialised trained emergency personnel. Currently most public emergency centres are staffed by clinical and medical officers who lack specific training in emergency care. Secondly, there is lack of standard operating procedures and emergency operation plans leading to deaths of many Kenyans. The third issue is lack of resources. The majority of counties in Kenya lack ambulance services and specialised equipment to handle emergency cases. In most cases, patients are transferred to hospitals by private means because few people can afford an ambulance, given the cost of hiring one. There is also scarcity and the lack of a coordinated and reliable central dispatch system. This is a problem. Over the last couple of years, Kenya has seen an increased number of major incidents and disasters. The rise in global terrorism and lack of enforcement in traffic and building regulations has contributed to this. Without a coordinated response to these incidents, there is the potential of unnecessary increase in morbidity and mortality. Emergency care systems should be recognised as a priority in Kenya. It is for this reason that I wish to draw this matter to the attention of the Senate and the Standing committee on Health. As we are all aware, health is a devolved function. Further, as you may all recall, Parliament passed the Health Act, 2017. This Statute makes elaborate provisions on how healthcare services should be handled in Kenya, including the collaboration between national and county governments on matters relating to emergency healthcare services and the enactment of regulations for better implementation of the said Act. Mr. Deputy, Speaker, Sir, it is unfortunate that many provisions of this Act have not been operationalized almost one year since its enactment. The health of Kenyans is too important to be taken casually. Parliament has legislated, let the executive implement the law. Parliament cannot legislate in vain. I, therefore, call upon the Standing Committee on Health to undertake its oversight mandate and ensure that the Heath Act, 2017 is fully implemented."
}