Kwale governor Salim Mvurya has ordered investigations into poor services at Msambweni County Referral Hospital
The Governor and Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani said they have been receiving complaints from patients.
They spoke on Monday after opening a Sh32 million blood bank project at the hospital.
It was funded by the county government, GIZ and Base Titanium.
Mvurya said the county's efforts to improve healthcare are hampered by the shoddy work by staff at the hospital
He said patients are told to either buy drugs or they are asked to go private hospitals which many cannot afford.
"Patients should not be told there are no drugs in public hospitals yet the county does not owe the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority. Why are patients being told some machines are not working?” he asked.
"We will not tolerate dishonest and corrupt staff."
Mvurya directed the Health county executive to scrutinise the ownership of pharmacies that are adjacent to the referral hospital.
"This racket must end. The people who run pharmacies near the hospitals need to be known so we are sure they are not involved," he said.
The governor said rude, lazy health workers who do not want to treat patients should be sacked.
"You have an option to work in the other 46 counties if you are unwilling to work wholeheartedly in Kwale," Mvurya said.
Achani said access to quality medical care remains a major challenge, despite Health docket getting a big share of the county budget.
She said some patients are being denied treatment because they lack the National Health Insurance Fund cards.
Achani told health staff to have empathy when handling patients instead of exploiting them.
"No day passes without getting a call from patients regarding neglect by doctors," she said.
She told managers to clean up the mess at the hospital.