Hospital chiefs warned against misuse of funds

Public hospital bosses have been warned against mismanagement of facilities under their watch.

Health Principal Secretary Khadija Kasachoon said that the government was committed to ensuring that Kenyans got good healthcare.

Dr Kasachoon said the national government has allocated billions of shillings to all 47 counties for the health sector and mismanagement and embezzlement of funds will not be allowed.

She directed top hospital managers to provide quality and transparent management in hospitals and warned that those engaging in corruption and compromising service delivery will be kicked out.

“Hospital bosses and management boards should ensure Kenyans get quality service and all public funds is accounted for,” said Dr Kasachoon.

The PS who was in company of Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat, Nandi County Woman Representative Zipporah Kering and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter said it was illegal for public hospitals to charge maternity fees which the government had abolished.

Dr Kasachoon , who was speaking at the official opening of Lessos Hospital in Nandi County on Saturday, told off governors who were unwilling to have new medical machines provided by national government installed in their county hospitals.

She said that the national and county governments were serving Kenyans and all the 47 county governors should accept the machines which will enable Kenyans get special treatment locally instead of travelling abroad..

The PS said that the government was committed to building two new hospitals in each of the 47 counties.

Ms Kering took issue with Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia on the controversy surrounding the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) over the mess that surrounded the appointment of a new hospital chief executive officer last week.

“MTRH is a National Hospital like Kenyatta National Hospital and the Cabinet Secretary is watching as the hospital services to the public drop,” said Ms Kering.

The MP who is the National Assembly Health Committee member stated: “The Health Committee and Kenya will hold Mr Macharia accountable for watching as MTRH suffer over leadership. He should not take sides at the expense of millions of Kenyans who want quality service .”

Ms Kering and Mr Keter raised concern over the direction the MTRH management was taking and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint a CEO from out of Rift Valley whom they said will be able to unite the staff and local communities and improve service to the public.

Dr Lagat said he has signed a MOU with the national government for the supply of the new health equipment to hospitals in Nandi County.