The government has standardised the pricing of health services across all private hospitals.
The directive took effect on July 26, after new minimum and maximum rates were gazetted by Health CS Cleopa Mailu.
The CS said medical and dental fee guidelines have been adjusted based on the inflation rates from 2013 to March 2015, as quoted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
In line with the new rates, mothers who deliver normally in any of the hospitals are charged Sh36,000-72,000. Normal twin delivery costs Sh72,000-120,000. Caesarian section costs Sh96,000-180,000 while Resuscitation of a newborn costs Sh12,000-24,000.
Manual removal of retained placenta costs Sh36,000-60,000. Mothers with complications that lead to fistula repair pay Sh24,000-48,000. Vasectomy is Sh12,000-24,000 and female sterilisation is Sh36,000-72,000.
Cervical cancer screening will cost Sh3,600-7,200, while surgical procedures for cancer treatment will cost Sh180,000-420,000.
Those who need kidney transplant will pay Sh240,000-360,000. Open heart surgery is Sh180,000-360,000, replacement of joints is Sh72,000-96,000 and spine procedure is Sh140,000-240,000.
CT scan costs Sh18,000-30,000 for emergency, abdominal and regional scans, while that for head/skull is Sh14,400-26,400. Sinus scans cost Sh12,000-24,000.
Ordinary x-rays on a hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, hip or leg cost Sh1,200-3,000, depending on the part.
Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board CEO Daniel Yumbya said the rates will protect Kenyans from being overcharged. “We want patients to compare rates before they go abroad for any medical care,” he said.
According to the guidelines, chemotherapy costs Sh6,000-12,000 per session and HIV drug resistance testing is Sh42,000-72,000. Viral load test is at Sh6,000-11,520.
Inter-hospital transfers under anaesthesia within same town will go for Sh10,000-20,000 per hour, while that to a different town has an hourly charge of Sh10,000-50,000. ICU care now costs Sh10,000 per hour while HDU costs Sh7,500.
