The Nairobi Hospital has dismissed allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the facility as unsubstantiated.
The hospital’s board chairperson Chris Bichage on Monday said the facility with support from the Board of Trustees has put in place several policies that play a crucial role in enhancing good governance within the Hospital.
He said that up to the year 2020, the hospital did not have policies and other governance instruments in place which heightened the institution’s risk exposure over a long period of time.
“As a Board, we challenge anyone out there who has evidence of corruption within the hospital to come forward and table it so that the culprits can be brought to book as per the laid down policies and procedures,” Bichage said.
On the issue of financial performance, Bichage said the hospital’s financial base is healthy with a bed occupancy averaging above 70 per cent.
He further noted that staff salaries get paid by 24th of every month and staff’s low-interest mortgage with car loan facility already being utilised.
According to the hospital, payments to consultant doctors over the last four years has not only been prompt, but with a steady growth rate.
The data provided by the hospital shows that Sh1.1 billion was paid in 2020, Sh1.2 billion in 2021, Sh1.5 billion in 2022, Sh1.6 billion in 2023 and nearly Sh1 billion has already been paid to consultant doctors this year.
Bichage termed the hospital’s financial performance as promising.
He said the hospital recorded a deficit of Sh565 million in 2022 which was largely due to the declined occupancy at the UN Nairobi Hospital East Wing that was exclusive for Covid-19 patients in 2021.
He also blamed the deficit on the inflationary pressure and the depreciation of the shilling against major currencies at that time.
Despite this, the hospital posted a much better performance in 2023 registering a surplus of over Sh190 million.
“The overall 2024 Quarter 1 performance already had a surplus of Sh88 million and with the several initiatives and strategies put in place by management, 2024 has more prospects for improved performance,” he said.
“From these figures, it is clear that this is not an institution that is collapsing as it is being alleged by some disgruntled individuals.”
The hospital further noted that both equipment acquisition and the infrastructure projects have been financed through internally generated sources and not financed through loans.
On the issue of ethnicity of staff, Bichage said nearly all ethnic communities are represented in the staff establishment, based on the fact that the facility is has a national face.
