Devolution blamed for poor state of hospitals

The deteriorating state of most hospitals in western Kenya has forced many patients to seek services elsewhere.

The problem, according to health workers, has been made worse by the haphazard manner in which the devolution of the sector was done.

And patients still incur heavy costs by purchasing drugs and other necessities meant to be free.

Women expecting to give birth at Kisumu East District Hospital should spare an extra Sh1,000 for gloves, cotton wool, painkillers and antibiotics.

Mrs Scola Otieno, on Monday, said that the cost of treatment was no longer friendly.

“There is nothing like free maternity service here. In fact, the additional cost is sending more and more women to traditional birth attendants,” she said.

Nurses confirmed the sorry state of the hospital. Some said they handled patients with their bare hands, exposing themselves to danger.

LOW INFLUX

Nurse Lisa Mosone said the number of patients at the hospital had dropped as many opted be treated in private clinics.

“Before we attend to patients, we ask them to produce gloves, painkillers and other basics. Our colleagues from public health centres and district hospitals also do the same,” she said.

Kapkatet District Hospital Medical superintendent Kenneth Sigilai blamed devolution for the mess.

Dr Sigilai said in the old system, hospitals were supplied with drugs every two months but currently, they only get them twice a year.

“Before devolution, hospitals used to make orders for they drugs needed as they waited for the National Government to pay. This has changed because we have to wait for counties to raise the full amount required before any transaction is done,” he told the Nation in an interview.

Dr Sigilai said the bureaucracy was to blame for the slow delivery and bad services. Hospitals must deposit all their revenues to county government accounts.