Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a strong directive banning the practice of bed sharing in public hospitals, saying it undermines patient dignity and amounts to misuse of resources.
Speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Health Committee, chaired by MP Dr. James Nyikal, Duale warned hospitals against admitting more patients than they are licensed to accommodate.
“No more bed sharing, if a facility wants to take in more patients, then it must expand its capacity. Otherwise, it’s not just overcrowding it’s fraud.” the CS said firmly.
He directed the Social Health Authority (SHA) to strictly vet claims from health facilities, saying any hospital caught billing for patients sharing beds would be flagged for insurance fraud and held accountable.
Duale’s remarks came during a two-day Universal Health Coverage (UHC) retreat that brought together the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, and other stakeholders.
The ban is part of wider reforms under the UHC programme aimed at raising the quality of care in public facilities, enforcing accountability, and protecting the dignity of patients many of whom have had to share beds due to overcrowding and stretched resources.
“This is about dignity. This is about doing right by the Kenyan people,” Duale said.
