The governor should sort the mess at Vihiga Referral Hospital, the senator has done his part.

Oversight Engagements on the Health Sector in Vihiga County

On May 10, 2023, the Senate formally notified Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo regarding an inspection tour of Vihiga County Referral Hospital by the Senate Standing Committee on Health. This followed a statement I presented in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya.

It is important to emphasize that the responsibility to act on these recommendations rests with the county executive, not the Senator

The Health Committee conducted the tour on May 16, 2023, to assess the hospital’s status, including the prolonged construction of the hospital plaza.

Key recommendations approved by the Senate after the tour include:

The stalled construction of the hospital plaza requires urgent intervention by the Governor to expedite its completion.

• The county has yet to implement a performance-based management system at the referral hospital. The Governor should prioritize improving employee productivity and enhancing revenue collection immediately.
• Revenue collection at the hospital remains manual, exposing it to fraud and abuse. The Committee recommended full automation of revenue collection at all applicable pay points within the county, including the referral hospital.
• Vihiga County Referral Hospital currently does not meet the requirements of a Level 5 hospital. The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council should review the hospital’s classification.

Additional concerns were raised regarding the lack of a budget capitation, which hampers operational efficiency. The Committee called for the establishment and operationalization of a facility improvement fund to support optimal hospital functioning.

The Committee also highlighted unresolved cases of medical negligence, poor security, and possible complicity by some health workers in incidents involving imposters at the hospital. It recommended that the Governor and County Public Service Board strengthen administrative structures, ensure timely and fair disciplinary actions, and bolster security operations at the referral hospital.

The oversight report has been dispatched to the Governor and the County Public Service Board for implementation.

It is important to emphasize that the responsibility to act on these recommendations rests with the county executive, not the Senator.