The Senate wants to establish alleged inadequate bed capacity at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy hospitals in Nairobi.
This was triggered by Kisii Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, who sought to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Health on the two-level five hospitals.
“I rise pursuant to standing orders 53 (1) to seek a statement from the committee in health concerning the inadequate bed capacity at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy hospitals,” she said on Tuesday.
The Senator alleged that mothers end up sharing beds with as many as three individuals occupying a single bed at Mama Lucy Hospital.
As a result, Orwoba now wants the Health Committee to outline the specific measures taken by Nairobi County and Ministry of Health to address the alleged shortage of beds in hospitals.
The Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago-led committee has also been tasked to provide an assessment of the current infrastructure and resource allocation at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy.
“This includes factors contributing to the alleged inadequate bed capacity and lack of sufficient sitting arrangements for patients as they wait to secure beds,” Orwoba stated.
The health committee is also expected to state steps being taken to ensure the timely and effective implementation of measures to expand bed capacity and improve facilities.
This is aimed to safeguard the health and dignity of patients especially expectant mothers who rely on health care institutions for essential care and support.
Giving his remarks on Orwoba’s statement, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said that the situation at both health facilities was quite dire.
“Mr Speaker, as part of my oversight work I have visited all level 5 hospitals, and the situation at Mama Lucy is quite dire,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the Health committee had previously made helpful resolutions that could change the current status of the health facilities.
“I want to inform this house that we have had serious support from the health committee. This committee has helped us resolve to expand the county’s capacity to treat Nairobi,” the Senator added.
Sifuna pointed out that one critical resolution was the handing back of Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital from the National government to the County.
Mama Lucy and Mbagathi are Nairobi’s level 5 hospitals.
The classification of medical facilities is the responsibility of the Kenya Medical and Practitioners and Dentists Board.
The classification is determined by the human resources, services and infrastructure.
Level 5 hospitals have more than 100-bed capacities and are run by chief executive officers who must be doctors by profession.
A level 5 facility should handle more than 250 patients daily and the capacity to manage medical, pediatric, surgical and gynecological in-patients.
It should also offer renal dialysis, radiology services, tuberculosis management, mortuary and autopsy services, 24-hour pharmacy, pathology, chemotherapy and forensic services.
The hospital should be built on at least 10 acres or 5,000 square metres.
It should have a 500-bed capacity with an ICU and Human Dependency Unit (HDU) having 12 beds each. It should have inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, a burns unit and staff quarters for at least eight people on duty.
Besides a medical superintendent, Level 5 hospital should have at least 15 medical officers, seven anesthesiologists, two cardiologists, four general surgeons and two orthopedic surgeons.
Another requirement is that it should employ at least 90 clinical officers, 118 nurses with specialists spread across different departments, 11 pharmacists and 10 pharmaceutical technologists.
