KNH plans to build private hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is planning to build a private hospital through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

According to KNH board chairman Nicholas Gumbo, the PPP funding model is expected to deliver an efficient facility that will generate more revenue.

“The proposed facility will be fully funded by the private investor on a Public-Private Partnership model and in compliance with the Kenya Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2013, and National PPP Regulations 2014,” Gumbo said during a press briefing yesterday.

KNH and the PPP Unit have finalised plans to hold an investors' conference in Nairobi today as part of the procurement process.

Gumbo said a private investor is expected to design, construct and equip the hospital’s private wing amenities.

He pointed out that the private investor will raise the required funds for the hospital construction and operations for predefined concession period.

KNH CEO Evanson Kamuri added that they would use the model as a way of upgrading to specialised services, which many patients are seeking abroad.

“We want to provide premium services such as liver transplants and cancer treatment in the new facilities by making it locally available,” said Kamuri.

The private hospital will address the changing disease profile that is now driving the need for specialised healthcare.

“Health professionals think that a rise in non-communicable and lifestyle diseases such as cancer and diabetes has increased the healthcare burden, piling pressure on the already strained health budgetary allocations,” said Gumbo.

Gumbo affirmed that the private facility will go a long way towards complementing the revenue needs of KNH, thus reducing pressure on the national Exchequer.