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A shredder used to manage medical waste installed at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital. [Mercy Kahenda, Standard]
The revenue collected by the county government's health department has steadily increased over the last three years.
Revenue collection increased from Sh405 million to Sh957 million in the period.
According to the annual financial report of 2018/19 released on Monday, revenue collection in the department gradually improved from Sh405 million in 2017, Sh597 million in 2018 and Sh957 million in 2019.
The money was collected from 19 hospitals from the months of July 2018 to June 2019. The increase was attributed to the adoption of automated revenue collection technology.
“Collect Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), collected Sh405,703,607; Sh597,511,764 and Sh957,022,225 respectively,” reads a section of the report.
Through the automated system, patients deposit bills for medical services through bank agents and M-Pesa and are issued with receipts.
“Automated revenue collection has limited handling of hard cash. Currently, we are able to trace a number of patients receiving services in any given hospital, and know which disease and services they have received,” County Public Health Chief Officer Samuel King’ori told The Standard.
Facilities, where the money was collected, are the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH), PGH Annex wing, Bahati hospital, Naivasha, Gilgil, Molo, Olenguruone, Elburgon, Subukia, Njoro, Langalanga, Kabazi, Keringet, and Mirugi Kariuki.
Other hospitals are Bondeni maternity located within Nakuru Town East and Mogotio hospital in Rongai.
Leading hospital
In the report, Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, a level five facility, was leading with Sh600 million, up from Sh400 million in the previous year. Quarterly revenue collection for the leading facility that serves as a referral for patients in Nakuru and neighbouring counties - Narok, Nyandarua, Bomet, Baringo, Kericho, and Laikipia - was Sh138 million.
In the first quarter, the hospital collected Sh85 million, according to the report.
Naivasha hospital was second in revenue collection with Sh184 million followed by PGH private wing (Annex), with Sh40 million.
Gilgil and Molo hospitals recorded Sh36 million each while Bahati registered Sh30 million and Njoro collecting Sh12 million.
“All hospitals present monthly reports for revenue collection that helps us enhance service delivery,” said King’ori.
Automated revenue collection technology captures data and services offered, including review of hospital operations.
Through the system, the hospital managers can monitor services and flow of information.
“Each staff stationed in a given hospital is accountable for services offered... and evaluate their performance,” said the chief officer.
The money, according to the public health chief officer, is used to improve structures, procure medical equipment and maintenance.
King’ori added that part of the money is also used to hire experts to treat patients suffering from life-threatening diseases.
Hiring experts
Among facilities that have benefited from the hiring specialists is PGH that serves about 2,000 outpatients. The hospital has a bed capacity of 800.
According to health records, the hospital has employed about six doctors in respective specialties, among them an oncologist who treats cancer patients at the oncology unit.
Other departments with specialised doctors are the cardiology and kidney units.
Expansion of services at the hospital is also ongoing, including the construction of an outpatient department, that has been allocated to Sh120 million.
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