Report unveils massive rot at Baringo hospital

Kabarnet County Referral Hospital in Baringo County. Joint committees of the county assembly have revealed massive irregularities at the facility, including having junior and inexperienced staff treating and issuing medicine to patients. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

Patients in need of surgical implants at Kabarnet County Referral Hospital are required to deposit money into a supplier’s bank account before they are attended to, a report has revealed.

The document presented to the county assembly on Tuesday by the joint county assembly committees of health services, and public investments and accounts further revealed untrained subordinate staff dispense drugs and attend to the sick.

The report, which was tabled after journalists were ordered out of the assembly, details the shocking state of the facility, which ironically receives the highest budgetary allocation from the finances the county receives from the exchequer.

“Patients requiring surgical implants are advised to deposit funds to a certain suppliers bank account, then the implants would be brought in by the following day through courier service by the surgeon since the county does not stock surgical aids,” reads the report presented by MCA Joseph Makilap,  chair of the 11-member team.

Patients who are not able to deposit the cash to the supplier’s bank account are not attended to.

The report also reveals underhand dealings by some of the staff at the hospital who collude with medics from outside to operate on patients then surcharge them up to 12 times what the hospital charges.

“The committee was given an account where a doctor from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in cahoots with an orthopaedic technician organised and carried out an orthopaedic operation on the hip of a patient at the facility without anyone’s knowledge.

“The two later collected Sh65,000 from the patient after the operation, whereas this would have attracted Sh5,000 paid directly to the facility,” reads the report.

Kabarnet County Referral Hospital general surgeon Ludia Mattakwa, who was among those grilled by the committee, revealed that the surgical ward was poorly equipped and not sterilised, leading to infection of patients during surgical operations.

Dr Mattakwa further revealed that technical equipment such as chest tubes meant for single use were being re-used in other patients, exposing them to infections.

“The surgeon informed the joint committee that the surgical ward at the referral hospital was poorly equipped and not sterile leading to infections of the patients during operations,” said the document.

Dr Ludia added that the theatre had very old and in some cases obsolete equipment. She said some artery forceps were not able to constrict bleeding during operations.

The reports notes that this situation had led to failed surgical procedures at the facility, forcing doctors to repeat operations on patients.

The committee was told the county administration had never bothered to provide surgical equipment.

“The surgeon has regularly been requesting for provision of the required surgical equipment from the county government but this has not been forthcoming.

“The acute shortage currently being experienced at the county had forced some untrained subordinate staff at various dispensaries and health centres to dispense drugs and attend to patients. The move is very risky,” reads the document.

The report also points out rampant drug pilferage in health facilities in Baringo due to lack of management systems which track drugs received from stores-to-facility, facility-to-facility and from facility-to-consumers.

“Hospital Medical Superintendent Kays Muruka informed the committee that the hospital had many loopholes for pilferage of drugs due to lack of an electronic health information system,” says the report.

According to acting Health Chief Officer Richard Koech, there were also several lapses in the pharmacy section, including lack of a duty roster for staff despite there being a computer that lacks data.

“Further, there is no recording of dispensed drugs to patients and the key to the pharmacy door is usually left with the cashier, who should open and close the pharmacy but more often than not, this is done by the cleaners,” adds the report.

The joint team was also told of constant interference from the governor, MPs, county assembly members and county executives to waive fees for patients.

“There is constant interference on the waiver of fees and discharge of patients from the facility by county leaders with little regard to the existing criteria for waivers.

“The leaders ask for waivers for patients who are able to pay hospital charges on their own,” said Muruka to the committee.