Sh43b health equipment included in this year’s financial plan

The Health ministry has floated a Sh43 billion tender for the supply of modern facilities for 94 county and sub-county health facilities.

According to the Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, the money for the purchase of the equipment has been factored in the 2014/2015 budgetary estimates.

The tender floated last week and posted on the ministry’s website says the equipment upgrade project would be fast-tracked and carried out in two phases.

In the first phase, whose tender bids close at the end of this month, winners would be expected to supply, install, test, train users, replace and maintain the medical equipment on a long-term basis of between seven to 10 years. Bids for the second phase are to be floated in October.

Additional funds

The Health ministry is allocated Sh47.4 billion in the 2014/15 budget indicating that with this tender the Government may have to seek additional funds from elsewhere.

To forestall any conflict between the national government and the counties, the minister said the project would be carried out in consultations with governors. “The equipment will be distributed to the counties, to supplement their efforts in controlling diseases,” said Mr Macharia on Monday. The CS was launching equipment worth over Sh500 million to over 480 health facilities across the country.

The equipment for supporting maternity service delivery, cervical cancer screening and treatment, as well as nutritional support for mothers and children was purchased through support from the Global Fund, he said.

It is also indicative in the tender that the ministry is aware of the possibility of duplication of some ongoing health facility upgrades by county governments.

For example, on Tuesday, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago said his government would allocate Sh250 million for upgrading health facilities in the next financial year.