Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed top public hospitals in Kenya to urgently address critical service gaps, including bed shortages and hidden patient charges, in a bold move to streamline referral healthcare across the country.
Speaking during a high-level strategy meeting held at Afya House in Nairobi, Duale met with Chief Executive Officers of the country’s national teaching and referral hospitals, where he laid out a plan to strengthen coordination and ensure quality care under the new Social Health Authority (SHA) model.
In a firm tone, the CS called for an immediate update of each hospital’s bed capacity in the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) database to avoid mismatched service delivery. He expressed concern over reports of patients being forced to share beds or sleep on floors due to poor capacity management.
“We must stop this indignity,” said Duale. “Hospitals must procure additional beds without delay. No Kenyan should be forced to suffer because of something we can fix.”
He also warned against co-charging for services that are already covered under the SHA and that hospitals must stick to approved tariffs and follow clear billing procedures to protect patients from unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses.
“Let’s not burden Kenyans further. If a service is covered by SHA, it must be accessed without any hidden charges. I expect facilities to adhere to standard pricing, document services accurately, and submit claims transparently,” Duale said.
He also addressed drug shortages and unreliable medical supplies, assuring the hospital CEOs that reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) are underway to ensure availability and a more dependable supply chain.
CS Duale urged hospitals to fully embrace technology to manage patient records, prescriptions, and operations. stating that this would improve service delivery, enhance accountability, and reduce the risk of fraud.
Further, he called upon hospitals to respond on time to public complaints filed through KMPDC and ensure that any new services such as transplants or high-end diagnostics are properly classified and regulated.
Duale emphasized the need for ethical leadership and urged hospitals to manage public resources prudently.
“We are not here for show. We must build strong, well-governed institutions that can serve Kenyans today and into the future,” he added.
The meeting brought together senior Ministry of Health officials including Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga, Director General Dr Patrick Amoth, KEMSA CEO Dr Waqo Erjesa, KMPDC’s Dr David Kariuki, SHA’s Dr Mercy Mwangangi, and other heads of national referral hospitals including Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
