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{
    "id": 915713,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/915713/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 185,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13328,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
        "slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
    },
    "content": "Also acknowledging that basically the health sector has been devolved and therefore the national Government has mainly remained with policy and referral hospitals. Those referral hospitals are the ones which ultimately deal with the highest level of diseases, which need specialist doctors. Going through the Report, it is true and I noticed that the Government needs to quickly ensure that those hospitals are well equipped. This is because most of their patients are from counties and they are unable to tackle many referral cases. More so, this Report highlights the number of doctors, nurses and other health practitioners in those hospitals, and suggests that the number should be increased, especially the doctors. We have not realised the required international ratio of doctor to citizenry in this country. The Report has highlighted this and it is very good. So, we need more doctors to be trained and employed. We also have a shortage of doctors whenever some of them go on study leave and other related leaves. The Report has highlighted this and recommended that we have more doctors and other health practitioners being employed. Another thing the Report has highlighted, and which I want to speak to, is the health coverage which is mainly conducted by either private insurance companies but, more so, the one that is handled by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). This coverage should be amended in such a way that it covers all treatments and sessions. For instance, for cancer, it should cover the complete treatment of this disease until the patient is healed. We are having situations in referral hospitals where NHIF covers few sessions or stops treatment along the way. Then the poor masses of Kenyans have to start paying from their pockets and this is difficult for them. The Report also highlights the issue which most Kenyans and teachers are affected by, and that is how technology can work effectively in ensuring that a patient is allowed treatment and proof of health cover is provided. Some patients are losing their lives because of the time that is taken between when for example NHIF acknowledges treatment for a patient and the time the doctors begin treatment. Usually, hospitals have to wait for acknowledgement that a patient is covered. The Report emphasises the use of technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in ensuring this is realised quickly enough so that patients can get services. Therefore, I found this Report very enriching. It is welcome. It touches on the issues that affect The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}