Ailing referral hospital back on its feet

By Peter Atsiaya

Medical services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have resumed after the Government appointed John Kibosia as the acting director.

A spot check by The Standard established that doctors and nurses, who had boycotted work demanding that the Government resolves the management crisis that was bringing down the hospital, have resumed duty.

Patients who were being turned away due to lack of medical personnel were receiving treatment at the hospital, the second largest referral in Kenya after Kenyatta National Hospital.

The outpatient wing was packed with patients when we visited the hospital unlike last week when it was deserted.

"Service provision has returned to normal. All is well now and we are focused on serving patients," said Dr Kibosia.

He noted that he met the hospital staff and urged them to focus on their cardinal responsibility of attending to patients.

"I am happy that my staff have responded to my call and are serving patients. With this kind of support we will bring the hospital back to where it belongs," said Kibosia.

Patients interviewed by The Standard said nurses and doctors had started attending to them unlike in the past when they were left to suffer.

"Doctors and nurses have resumed regular visits to the wards. We are not suffering like we did in the last two weeks," said a patient in the men’s ward.

Another patient added: "We are being served with food now. Before we could do without some meals."

Kibosia noted that the hospital is still facing financial problems.

He explained that they had started receiving funding from the Government to settle debts amounting to more than Sh500 million.

"Though the hospital is still facing financial challenges, the support we have received from the Government will get us out of this state," he added.