MPs want referral hospitals set up in all counties

Nyali MP Mohamed Ali Photo/Mkamburi Mwawasi.

Lawmakers unanimously endorsed the establishment of a referral hospital in each of the 47 counties.

They said this would reduce high costs of healthcare and mortality rate in the country.

Contributing to a motion sponsored by Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, the legislators said the existence of only two referral hospitals had constrained the provision of proper healthcare to Kenyans.

Ali outlined the statistics of deaths that could have been avoided if these facilities were established in all counties.

He said MPs and other top leaders had medical insurance they could use to seek treatment anywhere in the world, yet ordinary Kenyans could not afford even primary healthcare.

The lawmakers said the high number of cases Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital handle daily would significantly reduce if many hospitals were available.

“Over 80 per cent of Kenyans depend on the public sector for the healthcare services yet there are only two national referral hospitals. The Health Act provides that there shall be established a national referral hospital in each county," said Ali.

National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi asked the Implementation Committee to ensure the motion is implemented. “Kenyans made a mistake to devolve health. This is because devolution was enacted in 2013 but for over 50 years, the country has had challenges with healthcare provision," said Mbadi.