Counties asked to share Coast General expenses

Counties neighbouring Mombasa have been asked to contribute funds to help in running the Coast General Hospital.

County assembly health committee Vice-Chairperson Mary Akinyi said Mombasa does not have enough funds to run the facility, which also serves patients from Taita- Taveta, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Lamu.

“The Coast General Hospital serves six counties but five do not give us any money. We receive only Sh4.2 billion from the national government,” said Ms Akinyi.

She described the budgetary allocation from the national government as low, saying a large percentage of the money goes towards salaries. She said the county was left with a very small amount for health and development projects.

Ms Akinyi spoke during a health stakeholders forum at Travellers Hotel on Wednesday.

ESTABLISH THEIR OWN

She said the other devolved units could, alternatively, establish their own level five hospitals so that patients do not have to travel long distances to Mombasa for specialised treatment.

The health committee vice-chairperson said medical supplies at the referral hospital were strained, with health workers overworked.

“Health workers are demoralised because they are overworked. They work from morning till evening, serving a high number of patients,” she added.

County Chief Health Officer Khadija Shikely said the county plans to establish sub-county hospitals to take health services closer to residents, but it lacks funds.

Former Coast General Hospital board member Sarah Nyamvula said some of the facility’s plans collapsed owing to the challenges that came with devolution of the health sector.

She said between 2004 and 2007, revenue at the hospital was about Sh20 million a month, which boosted health services.
“Devolution came and the health plans crumbled,” said Ms Nyamvula.