KNH detaining patients, bodies over Ksh.6B debt, ministry says

KNH detaining patients, bodies over Ksh.6B debt, ministry says

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has been detaining 184 patients and 387 bodies for non-payment of almost Ksh.6billion, the Health Ministry has said.

A report from the ministry released on Thursday put the exact figure owed to the facility at Ksh.5, 692,834,284 owed.

Other facilities said to be detaining patients over unpaid bills include Kakamega Referral Hospital with a total of 56 patients and an outstanding Ksh.3, 336,806 owed to them.

At the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital no patients were recorded as detained but Ksh.1,000,993,870 debt was tabled as the amount owed.

Nakuru County Referral Hospital with 15 patients reportedly detained is owed Ksh.850, 780.

“To address the accumulation of patient bills in hospitals, the Ministry communicates to relevant hospitals to waive the bills or enter into a credit facility or cases that are brought to our attention,” reads the response from the ministry.

This comes after the MPs asked the ministry to table the number of patients detained countrywide.

The Ministry of Health further warned that legal action will be taken against any hospital found culpable.

On Thursday, the ministry presented data from 216 health facilities out of the existing 3,511 public and private facilities categorised as level 3 up to level 6.

In their defense however, the ministry noted that the data was not part of routine data collected in their systems but rather the mandate of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board.

The Board reportedly monitors the standards and quality of services delivered to Kenyans.

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