Redraft Health Bill, say governors

Governors have asked Parliament to redraft the Health Bill.

The Bill seeks to take the management of level five hospitals, previously known as provincial hospitals, from the counties back to the national government.

They said the Bill does not fully recognise that there are two levels of government, which are functionally distinct.

The Bill undermines the functional, procurement and financial autonomy of counties in health, they said.

The governors said this would require a referendum to amendment to the Constitution.

The Bill has been introduced in the National Assembly, but they say it’s “untidy” and aimed at amending the Constitution illegally.

The Council of Governors sent Mr Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Mr Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Prof Paul Chepkwony (Kericho) and Mr James Ongwae (Kisii) to present its views to the National Assembly’s Committee on Health.

Said Prof Chepkwony: “It creates a domineering Ministry of Health of the national government and empowers it to undertake devolved functions.”

The governor’s presentation was cut short after the MPs discovered that the governors had pointed out flaws in 19 clauses, but had only suggested an alternative to one. They were asked to come up with specific amendments.

Committee Chairman Rachel Nyamai asked: “Is it really about written documents or the health of Kenyans? The health of Kenyans is deteriorating.”

She said the committee visited various parts of the country and concluded that health services had deteriorated due to devolution. The constant strikes by medical workers and the resignation of doctors was due to poor working conditions.

“I was a medical superintendent and when I tell you it’s bad, I really mean it. There are areas where it’s not working,” said Dr Robert Pukose (Endebess, URP).

The committee has been in a dilemma over the creation of a national institution to manage the employment, deployment and transfer of health workers without interfering with the mandate of the Public Service Commission.

The governors defended themselves against the criticism.

“With the examples we are giving you, the services are actually improving.

“The only problem we may be having is that we started devolution two years ago. This is a nascent system. We probably need to give it one or two years to see where we are heading to,” said Mr Ongwae.