Court Advocate Phylis Wangui has raised a concern to the Ministry of Health regarding an operational crisis at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital. The hospital is reportedly facing great difficulties due to the continuous delays in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
It is believed that the hospital is suffering from long queues at the registration section, and patients have been complaining that even though they have fully paid their annual SHA contributions, the system does not work. Consequently, a lot of patients have had to pay out of their own pockets to get medical services while others have been turned away from different hospital departments.
The situation was further worsened by the reception of a large number of patients who are referrals from Nairobi County hospitals where healthcare services have been compromised due to the current medics strike. This influx has added more pressure on Kiambu Level 5 Hospitals already limited resources.
Wangui was distressed after she saw the condition of such mothers during her visit to the facility. She said that according to reports, several mothers in the maternity ward have been stuck since November last year because of the SHA system that is not working. Out of pity for their situation, the advocate extended her help by paying the hospital bills of some of the patients.
She also urged that the Linda Mama programme be brought back, explaining that it used to offer essential and focused assistance to mothers and children.
People receiving healthcare services and those supporting the healthcare sector are presently urging the government to make a quick decision in order to bring back the normal situation of things and also to enable the people of Kenya to have access to the healthcare services without them incurring excessive financial burden.