Govt warns Kenyans against seeking these ICU services, says institutions not registered

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council has warned members of the public against taking up ICU care for COVID-19 patients advertised by three institutions; Apex home healthcare, Utunzaji home and Nursing care as well as Wholistic Nursing care.

The three facilities had put out advertisements claiming to offer home based ICU care at a prescribed fee. Apex home healthcare said they were offering ICU homebased care at Ksh.15,000 per day for a minimum of 10 days while while Wholistic Nursing care were charging Ksh.10,000 per day.

In a statement issued on Friday, the council CEO Daniel Yumbya said the institutions are not registered and that their advertisements are misleading.

“The Council wishes to advice members of the public to TAKE CAUTION that the above mentioned institutions have not been registered by any of the regulatory bodies and their advertisements are misleading and geared towards obtaining money by false pretense,” reads the statement.

The council further pointed out that it is not possible to offer ICU care at home as claimed in the advertisements and has therefore taken displinary action against the said institutions, ordering them to pay a penalty of Ksh.500,000 each within the next 14 days.

“Intensive care is specialized treatment provided by trained health professionals who include medical specialists, critical care nurses, Pharmacists among others. Further, the equipment used in ICU care includes the following and other medical consumables; ICU bed with a flexible mattress, uninterrupted Oxygen supply, Ventilator, blood gas analyzer, patient monitor, infusion pumps, defibrillator and trained critical care staff,” adds the council.

The three institutions have further been ordered to pull down the advertisements.

“Having considered the contents of the advertisements and noting that ICU care cannot be provided at home, the Council hereby makes the following ORDERS; Apex home healthcare, Utunzaji home and Nursing care and Wholistic Nursing care do pull down all the advertisements;  Apex home healthcare, Utunzaji home and Nursing care and Wholistic Nursing care shall each pay a penalty fine of Ksh.500,000 to the Council within 14days from this date thereof,” reads the statement.