Governors ‘refusing to sign health kit deal due to lack of specialists’

Governors reluctant to sign the Sh38 billion medical equipment leasing deal are worried about the lack of qualified staff to operate the machines, a Senate committee was told Wednesday.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy told the Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation that the county had no specialists to ensure the equipment benefits patients in the region.

“I am one of the leaders who have not signed for the project. It is because I don’t want to receive equipment that we cannot use. I don’t have specialists to operate the equipment, including dialysis machines,” the governor said.

Mr Timamy, who was accompanied by the county executive for Health, Dr Kombo Mohamed Bwana, said it was unfortunate that governors who had not signed the contract were being demonised.

“The governors are portrayed in a negative way yet they have genuine concerns. It will be a disservice to my people when patients come and we don’t know what to do,” said the county boss.

He, however, said the provision of quality health care had improved since the launch of devolution.

Dr Bwana said the county does not have a single specialist, with three hospitals and dispensaries relying on clinical officers, who lack the capacity to handle the machines.

“The medical equipment would be a waste. They would remain in stores.

“Sometimes we hold discussions with relevant officials from the national government on what we need, only for them to bring machines that are way above our capacity,” said Dr Bwana.
The committee — which includes senators Boni Kwalwale (Kakamega), Daniel Karaba (Kirinyaga) and Joy Gwendo (Nominated) — was in the region to assess the success of devolution and the ability of counties to come up with appropriate laws.

Dr Khalwale, who chaired the session, asked governors to demand adequate medical staff as they sign for the machines, instead of embracing “populist” ideas that could backfire in the long run.

BOUND TO FAIL

He said the government could have started by equipping the original 11 Level Five hospitals as they build capacity in the rest of the health institutions in the 47 counties.

“Let’s not waste money on good things that are not going to be used,” he said.

Dr Khalwale said it was unfortunate that the project was bound to fail because the government ignored relevant professionals right from its conception, who could have advised on the best way to implement it.

He said some senators had questioned the motive behind the fast implementation of the project despite complaints over its viability given the shortage of specialists and technicians in the country.