State to probe hospitals that detain patients over bills

The Health ministry has finally set up a team to examine cases of hospitals detaining patients for failing to pay medical bills.

Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache (right) has ordered investigation that will target nine major hospitals, some which have hit the headlines numerous times over such cases.

The investigation, which will also look into the detention of bodies over mortuary fees, will be carried out by a technical team set up by the PS and a report submitted on April 5.

On top of the list is Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s main referral hospital. It was in the news recently after a man tried to smuggle out his daughter inside a bag over a Sh56,000 bill.

Others are Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, National Spinal Injury Hospital and Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The ministry is also targeting major private hospitals namely Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, Mater Hospital, Nairobi Women’s Hospital and Nairobi West Hospital.

Mochache said the probe would entail determining the number of bodies detained in the facilities’ mortuaries, and the number of patients, especially new mothers, who were discharged but still detained over outstanding bills.

“The team will investigate the existence of holding rooms and/or wards for clients unable to settle their bills and, if they exist, confirm the amenities provided therein, including water, bedding and food,” read the PS' March 26 memo.

The team will also determine procedures for discharging patients, payments and release from hospitals.

The PS said the ministry had to authenticate the detention claims and at the same time provide solutions to ensure such scenarios were avoided.

“(It will) establish the policies and mechanisms in place to deal with emergency admissions and patients who are unable to meet their bills at the time of discharge,” read the memo.

The team will further assess ways in which hospitals adhere to policies on the matter.

At KNH, for example, the facility has a social welfare office where patients who are unable to pay their bills can reach out and explain their predicaments.

However, a Government report, Health Sector Working Group Report 2019/2020-2020/2021 revealed that most patients gave wrong contact details or home addresses when being discharged, with a promise to pay outstanding bills.

For this reason, as at December last year, KNH was owed Sh6.5 billion in outstanding bills.

The Centre on Global Health Security, UK, in a research paper in 2017, cited Kenya as notorious for detaining patients and bodies when medical bills were not paid.

Pumwani Maternity Hospital and KNH were the two public facilities flagged as being the worst offenders. [Graham Kajilwa]