‘Hospitals offering services below their designated level will be downgraded’ – CS Nakhumicha

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha warned that public hospitals that fail to deliver services in accordance with their designated levels will face downgrades.

Speaking on Tuesday, November 13, Nakhumicha revealed that comprehensive inspections would be conducted in all healthcare facilities to assess their compliance with their respective level designations.

Nakhumicha warned that any hospital found providing services below their designated level would be subjected to an immediate downgrade.

“If a hospital is designated as a level 4, it must provide services in line with that level. Facilities found to provide services below their designated level will be subject to downgrade. Our aim is to ensure that facilities offer services that they are adequately prepared to provide,” Nakhumicha stated.

The CS stressed the need for each hospital to fulfil the expectations associated with its level.

“What I want is if a hospital is level 4, it must be a proper level 4 offering level 4 services. Wakikuja wafanye assessment waone ya kwamba izo hospital si level 4, tutairudisha level 3, tufanye kazi an nyinyi tueke equipment, tueke ile vitu inahitajika ndo tuirudishe level 4,” the CS warned.

She further explained the process of inspection noting that any potential upgrade would not be overlooked.

“Na wakikuja pia kufanya inspection waone kuna facility iko level 4 na inafaa kua level 5, tutaipeleka level 5. We want facilities to provide services that they are adequately prepared to provide,” she added.

Eight hospitals embroiled in NHIF scandal suspended

In June 2023, eight medical facilities were suspected of misusing funds from the National Health and Insurance Fund (NHIF). As a result, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) suspended these hospitals.

This came hot on the heels of an expose of certain private hospitals involved in a complex scheme in collaboration with dishonest NHIF employees, essentially stealing healthcare funds meant for both citizens and the government.