• Taskforce said lack of equipment has led to the unclear referral system.
• Money was spent on building structures but not providing essential equipment. People rush to KNH.
Why is Nairobi's health system still a mess?
Easy: Lack of financing, an unclear referral system and poor sanitation are three key issues holding back development of a Class A health system.
These are the findings of a task force formed by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to review and propose reforms for the health sector.
Chief executive director of Amref Health Africa Githinji Gitahi on Monday said despite a lot of hospitals built by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, the health system was "still a mess".
“These three components have conspired to compromise health matters in Nairobi. This should be addressed urgently moving forward to improve residents' health," he said.
Gitahi, who is also a member of the task force, made the comments in a forum convened by the task force. It involved public participation as well as input by Kenya's distinguished medical personnel.
He said most of the money was only spent on building structures but the medicine and equipment aspect was left behind.
“No one disputes we have a lot of hospitals but these hospitals are not equipped at all. From our engagements it has come out clearly that very few if any facility in Nairobi is well equipped to standard,” Gitahi said.
As a result, this has caused many city residents to flock to Kenyatta National Hospital,which has most of the equipment.
The task force said lack of equipment has led to the unclear referral system.
“ Hospitals like KNH are supposed to handle the big cases but most residents walking into a nearby dispensary are usually told to rush to KNH," Gitahi said.
"This this is even for cases that can be handled at the junior level," Gitahi said.
He said that residents should be urged to have insurance cover.
The task force is to deliver its findings in the first week of November.
Gitahi emphasised that proper investments in preventive and promotive health care would help reduce most diseases.
“If you visit most facilities in estates, most cases involve diarrhea, cholera and the rest. If we invested money in sanitation, these cases would not be there."
The taskforce was formed last month after Sakaja's impromptu visit to Mama Lucy Hospital.
Kenyatta University Hospital chairperson Olive Mugenda leads the taskforce of eight to review the sector and propose reforms.
Other members are Anastasia Nyalita, CEO Kenya Healthcare Federation; Githinji Gitahi, CEO Amref Health Africa; Dorcas Kemunto, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi, William Charles Fryda, Karei Mwenda and county secretary Jairus Musumba.
The team will be expected to engage residents, health staff and other stakeholders.
It will also review citizens' access to quality health services, assess the status of all public health facilities and the status of health information management and propose interventions to forge a comprehensive system.
Also in their in-tray is a review of supply chain management of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products, current human resource capacity,assessment of the gaps and proposing efficient health financing
The team will be expected to submit its report to City Hall together with its recommendations within 45 days from the date of its appointment.
(Edited by V. Graham)