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MANDU: Deplorable health sector spells doom for ordinary Kenyans

Situation calls for both national and county government to increase medical funding.

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by Amol Awuor

Siasa18 February 2024 - 05:41
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In Summary


  • In Kenya, however, the case is completely different where business moguls and politicians always jet overseas for treatment. 
  • It is high time this regime rose from the deep slumber, and implemented the long-desired development for the betterment of our beloved country.
Health CS Susan Nakhumicha during a conference at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on February 13, 2024. The deplorable health situation calls for both national and county government to increase medical funding.

Kenya's health sector has suffered for decades because of underfunding that has consequently put the nation in deplorable situation. Unfortunately, the politico and wealthy Kenyans always travel thousands of miles to the UK, India, US, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, to seek medical care and treatment.

It is not unconstitutional to jet out of the country for medical reasons but what our political leaders are supposed to consider is that remaining in Kenya to receive treatment defiantly gives hope to citizens on the standard of our healthcare system.

This generates questions not only on the status of our healthcare system, but why our politicians travel overseas for medication.

The decay of our health sector is scandalous, while Kenyans think the politicians can be the sole solution to the nation’s problems. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Nonetheless, we all know the problems we are facing in the country where people are suffering from unprecedented hunger, poverty and insecurity.

The nagging questions remain, who will bring relief to the country’s health system? It is like the country's health facilities belong only to the ordinary citizen because of the poor standards. And if that is the case, then there is no sanity in the system.

Similarly, most surprising is how the Kenya Kwanza government has failed to fulfil the campaign promises of having substantially equipped and standardised healthcare facilities. This is so unfortunate that our hospitals are in dilapidated condition while the President keeps taking of universal health coverage. 

The Covid-19 pandemic taught us an unprecedented lesson. 

In Kenya, however, the case is completely different where business moguls and politicians always jet overseas for treatment. 

It is high time this regime rose from the deep slumber, and implemented the long-desired development for the betterment of our beloved country.

Our leaders have savagely denied their compatriots, particularly those surviving in rural areas where preventable diseases like Malaria and TB are killing women and children is sizeable numbers the qualitative healthcare system.

Kenya has added almost four million people to its headcount- in the last 10 years alone- without any commensurate investment in healthcare.

Lately, our public hospitals have turned into a nightmare where patients die because of shortage of drugs, equipment, medical specialists and this affects the poor. Hospitals are employing their families and friends as nurses and doctors collect money in exchange for recruitment. The absence of transparent mechanisms and proper regulation gives room for corrupt practices.

Medication is progressively becoming unaffordable to Kenyans, especially to ordinary citizens. Government hospitals and clinics were hitherto cheaper and more accessible. Unfortunately, they are not because these doctors in government hospitals are the proprietors of private hospitals, where they refer patients to pharmacies, laboratories and services not rendered by public hospitals.

This deplorable situation calls for both national and county government to increase medical funding . This will improve healthcare facilities, staff welfare and social accountability in local communities. 

The writer is the national organising secretary, Ford Kenya



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