Politics and policy
Some of the houses the government constructed for civil servants in Ngara, Nairobi. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
By EDWIN MUTAI
The management of all major public health facilities
will revert to the State if a new Bill fronted by the Health ministry
becomes law.
The Health Bill 2014 published by Cabinet secretary James
Macharia seeks to give the national government control over referral
hospitals, specialised institutions, laboratories and procurement
management of public health goods.
“The national government shall manage and be
responsible for any public health institution classified as a national
referral facility... any institution or health facility engaged in such
specialised health activities as can only be provided effectively and
efficiently at the national level,” the Bill states.
Currently, the Constitution has left only the
management of Kenyatta National Hospital and the Moi Teaching and
Referral Hospital as well as development of health policy to the
national government.
It devolved county health facilities and
pharmacies, ambulance services, primary health care licensing and
control of undertakings that sell food to the public.
Also handed to county governments are control of
veterinary services, cemeteries, funeral parlours, crematoria and refuse
management.
The Bill, currently being reviewed by the
Commission on Implementation of the Constitution, is likely to spark off
a fresh row between the two levels of government that have been
fighting over control of health funding and staff.
Last year, the Treasury allocated county governments Sh3.4 billion to run the 11 Level 5 hospitals.
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