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{
    "id": 952632,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/952632/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 65,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "daughter was in pain and suffering inside a Government hospital and there was nothing she could do to alleviate her suffering. Mr. Speaker, Sir, such incidences distort the intention of devolution. We are all aware of the Kshs38 billion for the Managed Equipment Service (MES), which provided Vihiga County Referral Hospital with a CT scan, among other medical equipment. The Kenya Government has also partnered with the Cuban Government to provide specialists in all the 47 counties. As a country, we have prioritized Universal Healthcare as one of the pillars of development. In the Financial Year 2018/2019, the Vihiga County Department of Health received a total of Kshs1,515,063,470, which is the highest allocation to a department in the county. In addition, the county has also recently hired medical staff. Therefore, with all this investment, how can one die begging for medical care? Mr. Speaker, Sir, there are numerous such cases that happen, not only in Vihiga County, but also throughout the country. The practice where doctors have private medical clinics next to Government hospitals is widespread. While the doctors will always be unavailable in their primary duty stations, patients are always referred and treated in these clinics with the same doctors at outrageous cost. This is wrong, inhuman and it must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. The Ministry of Health should take action. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, Sir, nobody ever invites injury, sickness or disease. People are suffering in homes, yet there are Government hospitals that have been turned to conduits of siphoning public funds. People are dying from common illness such as malaria, pneumonia, and other treatable illnesses because they cannot afford treatment at Government hospitals. In fact, Government hospitals subject patients to more suffering than relief from their health complains and, as a result, a great percentage of the population prefer herbal medicine. In light of this, plans to roll out UHC across the country is dead upon arrival. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is time that hospitals and medics are held responsible for medical negligence, not only through reprimands, suspensions and sackings, but also through prosecution in a court of law. What happened to the late Annette in the two hospitals is murder in broad daylight, and the criminal justice system must be involved in bringing all culprits to justice. The practice of demanding payment before offering emergency medical service is not only inhuman and unlawful, but it is against the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Governor of Vihiga County should be informed that the Senate – which fights to protect devolution by ensuring adequate and timely funding to the counties – is angry. I am angry, Kenyans are angry and the least he can do is to institute disciplinary action on the concerned staff. Truly, these are not caregivers, as it would be expected of a hospital. This young girl did not deserve to die the way she did in a county referral hospital. It is sad. Mr. Speaker Sir, I beg to move."
}