Health centres to be vetted on new rules

• Minister says the standards are for both private and public hospitals

Health facilities in the country will soon be required to meet stringent government regulations in order to be allowed to operate.

Medical services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o yesterday said the standards have been developed for public and private hospitals.

They have already been published and tested successfully in 10 districts.

Functional

Apart from coordinating and regulating health services, the standards also include systems for monitoring and evaluation of the health care system.

“They will ensure that we have a functional health care system from the national to community level,” Prof Nyong’o said in a speech read for him by the Nyanza provincial director of medical services, Dr Ojuang’ Lusi, who represented the minister at the opening of a scientific conference.

The meeting was held at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu and was organised by the Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya (Amek).

The minister said the standards were geared towards improving staff results, financial management and ensuring availability and use of standards and guidelines, all of which are currently below par.

The journey towards the development of the new rules began over a year ago with consultations among experts, including traditional medicine men.

At the same time, Prof Nyong’o said his ministry had launched reforms aimed at improving access to quality health care for all.

“The reforms target areas that provide maximum benefits to the majority of vulnerable groups, who form a large portion of society,” he added.

The reforms include developing policy and legal framework for establishment of mandatory national social health insurance fund, in order to increase access to health insurance and reduce inequality.

He challenged Amek to help identify and develop appropriate health technology.

He said that some of the medical equipment brought into the country, without consulting local engineers could not be fully utilised due to their sophisticated technology.

Technology

“Most of these end up in junkyards due to non-availability of spare parts, lack of necessary technical manuals or local service agents.

The chairman of Amek, Mr Philip Anyango asked the Government to form a health facilities and technology board to regulate the professions.

“Absence of guidelines on planning, design and construction has led to a situation where health care facilities are constructed without adhering to international standards,” he added.

In response, Dr Lusi said it was up to Amek to come up with the board to advise the Government.