Help us reverse trend of overseas treatment for Kenyans, Ruto says
By Noel.Wandera, July 3, 2023
President William Ruto has called for a reversal of the trend where thousands of Kenyans travel abroad for medical attention.
He said the move by people to go to other countries for treatment causes considerable foreign exchange drain on the affected families and ultimately on the country’s economy.
Ruto who was speaking at State House, Nairobi when he met the Nairobi Hospital’s Board of Management and Trustees asked the hospital to take the lead in reversing the trend by installing modern equipment.
“Every year, thousands of Kenyans travel abroad seeking treatment for various ailments. The Nairobi Hospital should take deliberate steps to support government in reversing this trend by acquiring state-of-the-art technology,” he said.
According to data from Ministry of Health, overseas treatment is costing Kenyans over Sh15 billion annually as they travel to seek referrals on oncology, heart disease and organ transplant.
Ruto said his administration will support the partnership between the hospital and the Global Fund, which aims to repurpose the 135-bed Covid-19 treatment centre constructed in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
The hospital’s board chairman Irung’u Ndirangu said the repurposed centre will be used “by other medical interventions to improve the health of Kenyans and foreigners.
“As a premier healthcare facility in this region, we have invested significantly in improving our capacity in efforts to provide world-class treatment and service,” Ndirangu told the president.
He confirmed that the hospital has already installed a fully-fledged state-of-the-art Biplane Cath Lab machine for cardio, neuro and vascular treatment services, the first such facility in East and Central Africa.
Ruto asked the hospital that as it repurposes the Covid-19 centre and upgrade other facilities, it should source modern medical technology that is lacking locally so that Kenyans travelling abroad for medical attention can access it right here.
During the meeting, the president agreed to be the Hospital’s patron following a request by the Board of Management.
The post has traditionally been occupied by the sitting President of the Republic of Kenya as enshrined in the hospital’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.