PS Oluga: Why Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital faces urgent need for decongestion

PS for Health Dr Ouma Oluga talks to CEO of Moi Referral Hospital Dr Phillip Kirwa during a tour at the hospital/MATHEWS NDANYI

Principal Secretary for Health Dr. Ouma Oluga has raised the alarm over rising congestion at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), which now serves more than 1.5 million patients annually — the highest patient load of any hospital in the country.

During a visit to the hospital this week, Dr. Oluga toured several facilities and held discussions with MTRH leadership, led by CEO Dr. Philip Kirwa.

He emphasized the urgent need to ease pressure on the hospital by strengthening healthcare services in surrounding counties.

"We don’t need to handle every medical case at MTRH," Dr. Oluga said. "We have agreed that the hospital should collaborate closely with county governments to build capacity in their hospitals, allowing them to manage less critical cases and help reduce the burden on MTRH."

MTRH currently serves patients from 27 counties across western Kenya and neighboring regions. But Dr. Oluga noted that the hospital is grappling with a range of challenges — among them a shortage of healthcare workers, especially nurses.

He revealed that more than 100 nurses leave the facility each year, often seeking better opportunities abroad.

"I have taken up the issue of staffing shortages personally, and addressing it is one of my immediate priorities," he said.

While budget cuts have hit MTRH, as with other public hospitals, Dr. Oluga expressed confidence that solutions could be found by reducing the overwhelming patient load and fostering more innovation through partnerships with counties.

Part of Dr. Oluga’s visit focused on assessing the progress of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) at the facility.

He praised the hospital for its strides in expanding specialized services and modernizing infrastructure.

Among the highlights of the tour was the Cardiology Unit, where the hospital has recently begun performing pacemaker surgeries — procedures that previously required patients to travel outside the region.

Dr. Oluga also commended the hospital’s successful implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) model, noting that instant approvals for covered services were now possible, enhancing patient access to care.

"The government is committed to restoring public trust in the healthcare system and ensuring Kenyans have access to quality, affordable services," he said.

Dr. Oluga also inspected the new Catheterisation Laboratory, which allows doctors to perform advanced heart procedures without opening the chest.

He announced that the facility would soon be officially launched by President William Ruto.

In addition to cardiac care, Dr. Oluga lauded MTRH for investing in advanced radiotherapy equipment, which now enables the hospital to offer cancer treatments that previously forced many Kenyans to seek care overseas, particularly in India.

Dr. Kirwa credited the hospital’s recent achievements in expanding its services and facilities to strong government support, guided by President Ruto’s vision of delivering quality healthcare to all Kenyans.