Inmates from Eldoret Prison seeking medical service at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) are being turned away due to a Sh15 million pending bill.
The unpaid bill has also forced the hospital to suspend mental assessment of murder suspects.
According to prosecutor Juliet Busienei, the police have been shouldering the cost of mental assessment for murder suspects following the development.
Eldoret Prisons officer in charge Alfred Musila said for the last one month, the inmates have not been able to access service at the referral facility.
Special treatment
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“Our inmates are being referred to Uasin Gishu County Hospital. However, some cannot be treated their because some inmates have serious diseases that need special treatment. The county hospital then refers us back to the same MTRH,” said Mr Musila.
He further said that the county hospital is limited in running some tests since they might not have equipment as well as some medication.
On Wednesday, an inmate from Lodwar Prison could not undergo surgery at the referral facility after he was turned back due to the pending bill.
The referral hospital CEO Wilson Aruasa said the prisons department is yet to pay Sh15 million debt which has been pending for the last two years.
“They should meet their contractual obligations since we gave them adequate notice,” said Dr Aruasa.
