Controversy riddled medical equipment deal still stoking more

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa. [File, Standard]

Controversy surrounds the leasing of medical equipment intended to actualize the Social Health Authority (SHA) by devolved governments.

Some Governors claim they were coaxed into signing contracts for the supply of the equipment, despite them not being made aware of who the supplier was.

Governors who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter revealed that their requests to identify the supplier were ignored, yet they were persuaded to approve the contracts.

“It is true, we were coaxed into signing for the supply of medical equipment. We do not know who the supplier is, but yes, we signed,” said a Governor who pleaded to remain anonymous.

The equipment shall be run by the National Equipment Service Program (NESP), under the national government, succeeding Sh63 billion Managed Equipment Services (MES), a project that was shrouded in secrecy and lack of transparency in procurement.

Despite the NESP procurement controversy, the first time governors acknowledged the importance of equipping counties with modern medical tools, emphasizing their role in improving healthcare amidst rising demand.

“I have requested my county be supplied with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-Ray, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan) equipment,” said the governor.

Also appearing before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang On December 5, Council of Governors Vice chair Mutahi Kahiga said counties were forced to sign the contract, to guarantee service delivery as majority have no financial power, and budget for the equipment.

Kahiga said the program shall also benefit private hospitals.

“We (counties did not procure the machines. We were not involved. The ministry is the one that did procurement,” Kahiga told the Senate, raising eyebrows about transparency of the program.

The Nyeri governor said in the new deal, at least 23 sets of equipment have been set up, to allow counties to pick what they wish to have in their respective hospitals.

After selecting preferred equipment, governors are then able to know the service provider, maintaining that they also do not have a choice on selection of equipment, in a role conducted by the national government.

Governors concerned have been dismissed by a tough-talking President William Ruto, saying no governor was coerced into signing the agreements for supply of the equipment.

“No governor was forced to sign the contracts. They entered into agreements with the suppliers willingly,” stated the President.

According to Ruto, there are at least seven suppliers involved in the medical supplies scheme.

"Anybody who say they were forced by the national government to sign wherever contract, those are conmen and are liars," the president said in defense.

Speaking in Kwale, he added, " There is nobody who forced them to sign any contract. That is the truth. You have to be a fool to be forced to sign a thing, and you actually sign," said the President. "You sign and go announce that ‘I was forced’? Kwani wewe ni mjinga kiasi gani (how stupid can you be)?

The head of state has maintained that the government costed the equipment, drugs and services with experts, and that procurement of any equipment.

But after Ruto’s gun-blazing statement, Kahiga withdrew statement shared with senate, claiming, "The confusion might have come because the Senate was addressing Nyeri as a county, and I said clearly even Kisii, Baringo and any other county was not involved as a county, but was involved through the council of governors whom we mandated,"

In an interview with a local TV station, Kahiga said, "As of now, I would speak as vice chair of the council of Governors and ask that this one is the very best program for us now. Let us stop saying it is trusted to mistreat, it is not".

At least 34 counties have signed to pick the equipment.

Bungoma is among counties that have ordered for supply of MRI, Pet Scan, dialysis and X-Ray machine.

Governor Kenneth Lusaka on his part drummed up support to have the equipment saying counties require them, to bring services closer to people, dismissing allegations that counties were coaxed into signing for supply.

“Counties were extensively consulted, If any claim they were not, it is lies,” Lusaka told The Standard in an interview yesterday. “It is upon counties to handle human resource to avoid them from lying idle”.

CoG chair Ahmed Abdullahi drummed support for the program, saying it is the best option for counties, in the current circumstances.

“By the way, if we had the Sh450 billion that we are asking for, we would tell the ministry of health that we have enough money to purchase the equipment".

In a joint statement, Ministry of Health and Council of Governors clarified that in the program, counties shall get the equipment under fee for service model which allows vendors to supply service, maintain and upgrade the modern equipment to county hospitals.

Contractors are also expected to be paid as per SHA gazetted tariffs.

"SHA reimburses facilities for the gazetted tariff amounts. This model fosters transparency, efficiency and sustainability while enhancing healthcare delivery nationally," reads a section of a joint statement by the Ministry, signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and CoG Chair.

The ministry and CoG maintained that they remain steadfast in their commitment to the rule of law and on improving access to quality healthcare for all Kenyans through collaborative, accountable and patient-centered initiatives.

Meanwhile, the government is working on opening bidding for servicing and management of MES project that was shelved in June last year.