Health CS Mutahi Kagwe puts private hospitals on notice over huge medical bills

 

Health CS Muthai Kagwe (center) is escorted by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro (L) and other county officials in Kiambu on September 29, 2021.[George Njunge, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has put private hospitals on notice over what he termed as fleecing Kenyans seeking healthcare services.

Kagwe said the hospitals were making huge profits at the expense of hapless Kenyans.

The CS also took issue with the hospitals for detaining bodies due to outstanding bills.

“I am asking private health institutions to regulate themselves before we step in and issue certain orders. We won't allow Kenyans to be treated this way any further,” Kagwe said.

At the same time, the CS told donor countries which supply Covid-19 vaccines to reconsider poor countries like Kenya for the vaccines instead of vaccinating their children who are not at a high risk.

“The diplomatic niceties that we engage in as friends without considering our plight is useless. There is no need of vaccinating children when adults are not,” Kagwe said.

The CS had visited the county headquarters to launch Kenya's accelerated Çovid-19 vaccination programme dubbed Kuwa shujaa, pata chanjo tufungue nchi.

Meanwhile, Kagwe said the government intends to intensify the Covid-19 vaccination through a mobile system that will take the vaccines into every home in remote areas of the country.

Kagwe called on all the counties to work together with community health centers to make the vaccine accessible to the people.

He said Kenya has received 6.5 million doses since the rollout began in the country but was in need of more owing to its population.