MPs, senators call for full health devolution

Members of the Senate and the National Assembly have called for legislation to enable full  devolution of the health sector. They also called for amendment of the Health Bill 2015 to achieve the same.

Speaking in Mombasa on Saturday during a consensus meeting on amendments and impact of Health Bill 2015, Migori Senator Wilfred Machage said there was need for a legislation to define operation of hospitals at different levels.

Dr Machage said the trend of converting hospitals under level six into teaching facilities for universities was alarming. Picking on Kisii Level Five Hospital, with the Kisii County government finalising plans to make it a teaching and referral facility, the senator said the trend could badly affect delivery of health services in the counties if left to continue unabated. He said the rush to upgrade hospitals could see some of them claim to offer specialties, while they lack facilities and equipment to deliver.

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, Mathari Mental Hospital and National Spinal Injury are all level 6 facilities managed by the national government.

National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health Chair Rachel Nyamai said the bill will have a big impact on the counties. Dr Nyamai said lack of a legal framework has been a big hindrance in the implementation of a number of devolved functions under health.