Clinics belonging to health staff in Narok ordered closed

Public health workers will not be allowed to run private clinics, Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai has declared.

Mr Tunai said 12 per cent of the county’s population lived below poverty line and could not afford private hospitals’ charges.

He directed county enforcement officials to liaise with the Heath executive to shut all clinics run by health workers.

“We will not allow you to earn at the taxpayers’ expense while the same residents are suffering and dying,” he said.

Speaking when he met health officers from Trans Mara and Lolgorian Hospitals Tuesday, the governor said the employees could easily be replaced by the 5,000 fresh Kenya Medical Training College graduates.

“Some health workers in our public hospitals refer many of their patients to their private clinics and sell the drugs sourced from government institutions. This will not go on,” he said.

Apart from the 155-bed capacity Narok District Hospital and 32-bed Trans Mara Hospital, there are 96 dispensaries, 16 health centres in Narok.

There is also the Oloongua Sub County Hospital.

The county buys Sh10 million drugs every month from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency.

In this Financial Year the county government set aside Sh2 billion to transform Narok District Hospital into a teaching and referral hospital.

An additional Sh25 million will be used to rehabilitate health centres and dispensaries.

“Our partnership with the Indian government will see us send 20 health officers for specialised training in that country.

That will go a long way in enhancing service delivery across Narok,” he said.