State should run referral hospitals

The call by senior medical doctors for the Government to take over referral hospitals is indeed recommendable.

Since the devolution of the health sector, there have been many crises in the sector — pitting nurses and doctors against the county governments.

Patients go to these hospitals hoping to get treatment, but it is sad that they instead meet their death at the facilities.

Management at these hospitals is highly wanting. Few weeks ago, it was reported that patients at Vihiga Hospital were relieving themselves in basins.

The excuse was that the facility was being renovated, and there was no an alternative way to help the patients. When the sector was under the national government, better services were being offered and strikes by doctors and nurses were minimal.