State now seeks control over major public hospitals

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.