Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of malpractice by health workers in county hospitals, accusing them of colluding with private clinic owners to loot public health facilities.
The governor singled out Thika, Kiambu, and Tigoni hospitals as particularly notorious for “artificial shortages of drugs,” warning that administrators of these facilities must either comply with his directives or face dismissal.
Speaking at the groundbreaking of the Uthiru Level Three Hospital in Kabete on Friday, Wamatangi expressed his disappointment that despite significant investments in the health sector, including securing drug supplies and acquiring necessary equipment, some unscrupulous individuals were deliberately depriving patients of care and treatment by referring them to private facilities.
The governor revealed that he is aware of cases where medics are denying patients access to medication even when it is available in public facilities, vowing to take legal action against those found guilty and terminate their services.
Wamatangi also highlighted the “manufactured claims” of unavailability of services and alleged lack of drugs, which have been creeping back into county hospitals, leading to public outcry. He directed that drugs be prominently displayed in open pharmacies and that health workers prescribe alternative medicines to ensure patients are not turned away even when the prescribed drugs are available.
The governor condemned the practice of health workers prescribing medicines that are in stock and then directing patients to purchase them from private pharmacies. He also emphasized that patients should not be referred to private clinics for medical tests or X-ray services, as these facilities are available in county hospitals.
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