Senate flags staff welfare, service gaps in Lower Eastern hospitals

The Senate Health Committee has expressed alarm over critical gaps in healthcare delivery and poor welfare for hospital staff in Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties.

During a comprehensive oversight visit, the committee assessed public hospitals to evaluate staffing, infrastructure, and resource management across Level Four and Level Five facilities.

The Senators observed that many health workers have remained in the same employment grade for over a decade, dampening motivation and affecting patient care.

They also found that slow processing of Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements is compounding operational challenges, leaving hospitals struggling to provide timely services to patients.

The inspection revealed pressing equipment shortages, including a missing mammogram machine at Kitui County Referral Hospital, alongside several X-ray machines that are not functional in other hospitals.

Additionally, water scarcity and insufficient bed capacity were noted as significant issues affecting patient comfort and care.

“I’m very disappointed to see six patients sharing one bed, three infants and their mothers. This should not happen in this era,” said Senator Tabitha Mutinda, reflecting on the overcrowding at Kitui Level Five Hospital.

The committee also criticised outdated record-keeping methods and urged hospitals to adopt modern, secure digital systems for better data management and revenue tracking.

“Facilities should use reliable and secure digital systems. These are not only essential for revenue collection and tracking but also for protecting patient data,” said Senator Mariam Omar.

Despite the challenges identified, the senators commended healthcare workers for their resilience and encouraged them to remain committed to patient care.

County governors acknowledged the gaps and confirmed efforts to address them, though they blamed the delays in SHA reimbursements for much of the disruption.

Following the visits, the Committee plans to compile a detailed report outlining its findings and recommendations to guide improvements in hospital services, staff welfare, and infrastructure management.

The report will serve as a blueprint for urgent reforms needed to restore quality healthcare across the Lower Eastern region.

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