Lack of a proper fence at Ukwala sub-county hospital has aided the escape of patients who have accrued bills.
Medical superintendent Felix Odhiambo
said patients with unpaid bills of between
Sh3,000 and 4,000 are among those who have fled.
Odhiambo regretted that the hospital faces many challenges, including skeleton staff and lack of equipment, yet it is a referral facility.
"We don't have a store for safekeeping of drugs so we have been forced to put up a makeshift iron sheet structure but it exposes the drugs to poor hygienic conditions," he said when Ugenya MP Chris Karan visited on Wednesday.
He added they have only three clinical officers yet a sub-county referral hospital requires 14.
The official added:
“We have only six of the required 60 nurses. This is very low compared to the number of patients we attend to."
Odhiambo further told the MP they have 12 beds yet the minimum requirement is 35.
Karan, who was accompanied by area MCA Peter Omondi, pledged to support the institution to raise its status.
He said he will facilitate the sinking of a borehole
in less than six months for the sake of the many patients who seek treatment there.