The Sh8 billion Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital open its doors to the public today, two months months behind schedule.
The 650-bed facility will be operating full capacity in the Accidents and Emergency department, according to Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki during a tour of the Hospital on Friday.
The oncology department of the state-of-art hospital will be 100 per cent operational while the renal unit will operate at 50 per cent capacity.
“A lot of ground has been covered and we are ready to get started. The hospital will be admitting its first patients on 28th this month. This is why I came to monitor the readiness and preparedness of the facility,” Kariuki said.
Initially, the hospital will have a 150-bed occupancy of cancer and renal patients.
Already 40 doctors, among them a renal health and oncology specialist, have been deployed as well as 150 medical staff, Kariuki, who was accompanied by board chairperson Olive Mugenda and acting CEO Andrew Toro said.
The CS said the facility will not be a walk-in, walk out, hospital – it will be 100 per cent referral.
“We are engaging other medical facilities surrounding in this area so that they handle cases that do not require special medical attention,” she said.
Kariuki said issues of management had been sorted out between the university and the Mugenda-headed board.
Some university officials had questioned the composition of the hospital board and felt that the institution was sidelined in the management structure.
The CS reiterated that the facility was established under the Ministry of Health through a gazette notice, despite it being hosted by KU.
“The board was gazetted under the Ministry of Health and guided by the Health Act which requires Level 6 hospitals to be run under the Health ministry. The issue of management is behind us now,” Kariuki said.
Mugenda regretted the delay in opening the hospital.
"The delay was inevitable as we had to test the equipment and hire the staff. The equipment has been tested and approved and staff hired adequately. We are ready to start operations and committed to maintaining high standards of service, she said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially inaugurate the new hospital.