Nearly all hospitals in the country are not prepared for the transition to Universal Health Care (UHC), a report drafted by the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee has revealed.
Godfrey Osotsi, the committee chairperson after presenting the report to the house on Thursday, expressed his worry over how Universal Health Care(UHC) will be implemented if the hospitals are not at the level required for a shift of this magnitude.
“Our investigations have uncovered a stark reality: nearly all county hospitals are woefully underprepared for UHC implementation.” the senator said.
Osotsi revealed that county hospitals are understaffed, lack essential equipment, and are generally not prepared for the greater responsibility that comes with the transition. The review which culminated in the report was conducted between April and September 2024.
A hospital ward in Kenya.
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Kenyans.co.ke/Murang’a GH
“They are plagued by understaffing and lack the essential equipment for critical services such as radiology and dialysis,” he reported.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, is an integral part of the government’s larger healthcare plan.
Apart from the unpreparedness, the senator also found out that a substantial number of county hospitals failed to submit financial statements for audit.
“This lack of compliance with reporting requirements is deeply troubling. It raises serious questions about the financial management practices within our county healthcare systems.” Senator Osotsi stated.
The senator has called on the Ministry of Health to take urgent action, emphasizing the need for enhanced oversight. He also urged his colleagues to hold governors accountable for the public resources under their control to ensure that hospitals are adequately prepared.
The government disbanded the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) system on Tuesday, October 1, and ordered all medical providers and patients to migrate to the new SHIF in a move that elicited controversy among Kenyans.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under SHIF proposes a contribution of 2.75 percent of gross salary, a major increase from the NHIF where Kenyans contributed a fixed amount.
A photo of the Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters.
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