• Under the fund, all public hospitals will generate their own revenue and spend the cash.
• The annual health allocation will continue to be made by the county treasury.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
Hospitals in Kakamega will draw funds from a central kitty to run operations after the county unveiled the Health Facilities Fund.
The kitty will provide a steady, regular and predictable source of funding for health facility operations across the county.
Public hospitals have been relying on funding by the county treasury to operate, causing delays in service delivery due to procedural hitches.
The fund will operate under the Kakamega County Health Facilities Improvement Fund Regulations, 2020.
The regulations were developed in line with the Public Finance Management Act.
Under the fund, all public hospitals will generate their own revenue and spend the cash. The annual health allocation will continue to be made by the county treasury.
Each of the facilities will have a committed office that answers to the fund's secretariat.
“It is my belief that if properly implemented, the many challenges experienced by the facilities will be a thing of the past. Besides, the kitty will stimulate increased revenue collection by health facilities and provide an alternative source of funding for the facilities,” Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said on Tuesday.
Oparanya spoke when he launched the fund and a Sh130 million 10-bed ICU ward at the county general hospital.
Oparanya said that the move is a demonstration of his commitment to better healthcare provision for the county. The kitty will be managed by the Health Facilities Management Committee.
He asked the management committee to ensure efficient utilisation of the funds and other resources to provide access to quality services to Wananchi.
“The committee must ensure prioritisation of key commodities, equipment and services. I expect the Advisory Committee to give timely guidance on prudent use of the funds and submit timely reports to county treasury,” he said.
On the other hand, the Kakamega County Health Facilities Fund Secretariat will be charged with the day-to-day running of the fund, he said.
He said that revenues generated by the Health Facilities for July 2021 have been verified and disbursement to the facilities will be made shortly.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
On Monday, the county government launched the subcounty treasuries, decentralising financial services from the county treasury to the subcounties to enhance the provision of key financial services at the grassroots.
Oparanya said the launch of the new ICU brings to 16 the number of ICU beds in the county.
The facility will go a long way in addressing the challenges caused by the rising demand for ICU services triggered by the rise in Covid-19 cases.
The county government imported a Sh93 million oxygen generating plant with a capacity of producing 1,000 litres of oxygen per hour a month ago.
“We are in the process of installing the plant and once completed and operational, Kakamega county will be oxygen sufficient and capable of supplying oxygen to neighbouring needy counties,” he said.
He said that the county was in the process of verifying the actual need for additional health staff and more will be hired once the exercise is complete.
The governor encouraged residents of Kakamega to go for the Covid-19 vaccination in all Level IV health facilities in the county.
“Vaccination is free and preparations are underway to expand vaccination points,” he added.
He said that the launch of the vaccination by the national government in March was preceded by low uptake of the vaccine as only 36,615 people received the first jab. The second phase has seen only 19,848 residents according to statistics.