The procurement of medical equipment for county hospitals has been a thorny issue in Kenya.
The Managed Equipment Scheme folded in 2022 as a scandal that left many hospitals with expensive machines that were never used.
Equipment worth millions of shillings gathered dust in hospital corridors due to lack of trained personnel or proper facilities.
As the Social Health Authority takes over healthcare funding, we must ensure these mistakes are not repeated.
The new National Equipment Service Project model allows vendors to supply, maintain and upgrade equipment in hospitals and bill the SHA.
But the vendor's identity is unknown. Kenyans deserve answers. Who are the companies supplying this equipment? How were the tenders awarded? Were counties consulted in identifying their needs? These questions must not remain unanswered.
The government must also involve county officials and health experts to identify genuine needs.
Equipment must align with the capacity of the hospitals it serves. Training healthcare workers and upgrading infrastructure should go hand in hand with procurement.
This is a great opportunity for the government to rebuild trust in SHA. Independent audits and public disclosure of procurement processes are critical. The companies awarded tenders must be vetted, and their selection must be fair and transparent.
Quote of the Day: “It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.”
Noam Chomsky
