The government has been urged to regulate the referral of patients seeking treatment outside the country and encourage exhaustion of local options.
Avenue Hospital Chief Executive Officer Imran Osman Yusuf said that the country has seen improvement in the health services provision, including local capacity to conduct complex health procedures.
Yusuf spoke on Friday after unveiling a cutting-edge medical facility with an investment exceeding Sh400 million at Avenue Hospital's main facility in Parklands.
He noted that a significant number of Kenyans, often seeking specialized treatment in countries such as India, South Africa, Germany, and the UK, could now be treated locally for conditions like cancer, highlighting the need for supportive policies.
Yusuf suggested regulating the number of Kenyans travelling abroad for medical treatment.
Doing so, he argued, would provide an opportunity for reputable local facilities to handle terminal diseases and, simultaneously, contribute to the promotion of medical tourism within the country.
“There is a need for the government to regulate the number of Kenyans travelling abroad for treatment by doing so, they will give a chance to local facilities with a reputation to treat terminal diseases and this will also help in the promotion of medical tourism in the Country," he said.
He said the Avenue Hospital has been consistently progressing in expanding and elevating their specialized treatment offerings noting that the opening of the Executive wing aims to address patient privacy concerns while fostering the hospital's overall growth.
Dr Peter Ntege, the General Manager of Avenue Group, echoed the commitment to boosting medical tourism, particularly in the East African market.
He emphasized that their services have been tailored to meet the growing demand for highly specialized care within Kenya and the broader East African region.
Highlighting strategic partnerships as a means to increase accessibility to healthcare, Ntege reinforced the hospital's dedication to being a "legacy of care."
He urged Kenyans to explore local medical services before considering specialized treatment abroad, emphasizing the substantial growth in the country's medical sector.
“Kenya has come into age and there is a lot of growth in medical services and thus, we would like to urge Kenyans to seek local services that are better and affordable," he said.
He highlighted that the speciality clinics at the new centre are dedicated to offering preventive, rehabilitative, and curative care, emphasizing the holistic well-being of patients, their families, and the community at large.
Dr. Mohammed Said, the Hospital Manager at Avenue Hospital Parklands, reiterated the commitment to constructing a healthcare system that maximizes quality while minimizing access barriers, acknowledging the challenges in service delivery.
Said attributed the construction of the executive wing to extensive research and dialogues with stakeholders, especially patients expressing a consistent demand for convenient, high-quality, and affordable healthcare.
“The inauguration of this executive wing aligns with the hospital's expansion strategy, and is a response to the rising demand for healthcare services, catering specifically to the extensive regional clientele," he said.
