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{
    "id": 916373,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/916373/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 447,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kesses, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Swarup Mishra",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13286,
        "legal_name": "Swarup Ranjan Mishra",
        "slug": "swarup-ranjan-mishra"
    },
    "content": "overstretched and has previously faced several crises, caused by grossly inadequate funding, industrial action, outdated equipment, staff inadequacy and suffers the burden from an almost collapsing county healthcare system. The hospital was severely constrained due to perennial underfunding. This has seen lack of plant and equipment maintenance and replacement. The hospital currently needs Kshs3.6 billion, plus an additional Kshs4.9 billion for the upcoming financial year. Lack of critical equipment has seen services severely hampered. The CT-scan project by the Ministry that is earmarked for the hospital is yet to be delivered while procurement of MRI scan has taken inordinately long. The hospital faces a staffing shortfall of near crisis proportions. A current shortfall of 1,456 staff has seen services greatly compromised. The hospital is overcrowded due to a broken referral system. The hospital also closed its outpatient clinic that had been previously used to decongest the main hospital. This is compounded by the poor delivery of services at lower level hospitals, especially the nearby Mbagathi Hospital that closes its doors at 5.00 pm. The patient waiver system for indigents was impaired by the lack of adequate social workers at the points of entry. This led to accumulation of bills, and even patients being detained. The National Land Commission (NLC) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) had annexed land of approximately 7 acres at the hospital without the requisite compensation of approximately Kshs4.2 billion. The hospital had several incomplete projects due to inadequate Exchequer release of Government of Kenya (GoK) counterpart funding. The lack of a complete ICT system had affected efficiency and effectiveness at the hospital. The stalled Health Care Information Technology (HCIT) system under MES had left the hospital with no solutions for its needs. The Committee makes varied recommendations for the respective facilities. In a nutshell, the Committee recommends full autonomy for Mathari and Spinal Injury hospitals, with improved funding and equipment. Mathari hospital must review the status of the maximum security wing together with the State Department of Correctional Services. The hospital should also acquire its title deed. The MTRH should be equipped to cater for the numerous patients, and funded to bridge budgetary shortfalls. Development partners who have faced administrative challenges must be facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry should ensure that KNH gets an enhanced budgetary allocation at sector level. The NLC and KURA should immediately compensate the hospital for the land acquired for road construction. The NHIF and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), as enablers of the Universal Health Coverage should immediately boost their capacity, among other recommendations detailed in this Report. Finally, allow me to echo the sentiments that I have since stated on this Floor, and most importantly to the Budget and Appropriations Committee. From the foregoing, it is evident that the Committee diligently diagnosed the problems facing the health sector and made varied 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."
}