Why deaths in public hospitals are on rise

Deaths in the country’s public hospitals have become rampant.

Many of the cases are associated with negligence by staff and managerial failures at the hospitals involved.

The trend is worrying when the country’s health sector is crippled and we end up losing our beloved ones to early deaths that could be avoided. The management of hospitals should focus on addressing the challenges they face.

Medical negligence has become too common in our hospitals and some of our relatives or friends have fallen victim by either getting the wrong medication that could lead to physical disability or even further deterioration of health.

Our healthcare sector has not only been riddled with incompetence, but also corruption where medical staff steal drugs from public hospitals and either take them to their own private clinics or sell them. Patients die every day because they cannot afford medication or treatment.

STAFF TRAINING

There is also an acute shortage of equipment such as X-ray and ultrasound machines coupled with frequent breakdowns. Most of the medical staff are forced to rely on conventional diagnostics, which are prone to errors that can result in deaths.

Our education system has also become a letdown especially in the training of doctors and nurses. Several unlicensed colleges are churning out unqualified graduates who are unsuitable to work in hospitals. Due to widespread corruption that runs across the entire country, such graduates ‘corrupt’ their way to getting licences and employment.

The recent wrangles on the devolution of the health sector has become a curse on our nation. Various county hospital staff have downed their tools demanding salary increments and better working conditions.

This has impacted negatively on the mwananchi who does not have money to visit private facilities.