Nairobi Hospital to review cost of treatment

The Nairobi Hospital has acknowledged that its medical fees are beyond the reach of many a Kenyan and promised to make the services more affordable.

“The cost has been an issue and many families feel our fees are beyond their means,” the hospital's Medical Advisory Committee and Admitting Staff Association chairman Richard Baraza said on Friday.

“We are addressing ways of making our services more affordable to our patients and their families,” he told journalists at the hospital on the status of the health facility.

Baraza’s statement comes at a time the facility is facing a number of management challenges including the control of the board since the sacking of Chief Executive Officer Gordon Odundo in April.

“This year has been a challenging one for the hospital since the CEO was sent on leave a year ago and later dismissed. The hospital has been in the news for all the wrong reasons,” Baraza said.

Various factions have emerged, all fighting for the control of the board. This has led in court battles.

The Nairobi Hospital is owned by the Kenya Hospital Association, which has a membership of 2,000.  

KHA elects a board of management consisting of nine members charged with overseeing hospital activities. The board can co-opt three extra members.

In April, a cholera outbreak was reported at the hospital’s cafeteria. The disease killed one employee and several other people were hospitalised. 

A couple of months ago the hospital suspended cashiers and embraced a cashless system after the management found that cash was being stolen.

Barasa said that the challenges were a wake-up call to review their services, make them better and more affordable.

“We want to assure our patients and the general public that when these challenges are over, the hospital will be in a stronger position,” he said, adding: “Our effort will be directed there through research and service delivery and acquisition of facilities."

The hospital is being renovated and upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility.