By Daniel Otieno, Kakamega
You will not get treatment in public dispensaries in Kakamega County when you’re penniless.
This is after the Kakamega County Finance Bill, 2024 was approved by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and it’s awaiting Governor Fernandes Barasa signature to become a law.
The Chairperson to the Finance and Economic Planning committee Boniface Osanga tabled the report of his committee with public views recommending adoption of the Bill.
Once the Bill is signed into law, it will enable the county government to raise revenues, through taxes, fees, charges among others means.
A key highlight of the bill that was subjected for public participation, there was a component of payment for all drugs and services offered in public dispensaries and health centres.
Patients visiting while suffering for instance from malaria, cold and flu or diarrhea would require at least Sh1000 in cash to be guaranteed treatment. Facilities will not be duty bound to save lives in case of an emergency.
First aid treatment on minor accidents patients in homes and farms, which ordinarily were rendered for free would now require one up to Sh3000 at these primary health facilities.
According to the bill every medical material such as gloves, syringes, injection, drugs, branula, infusion kits, catheter, lab test, cotton, nebulizer, stitching pack, water, electricity , mask, disinfectant have a price tag that range between Ksh.50 and Ksh.2, 000, which patients must pay fast whenever required.
Health Centers with Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), gynae, dental departments, women medical and surgical wards will be free to send back penniless patients, including the under 5 years, who ordinarily should be exempted.
The facilities will ask for admission fees, catheterization and catheter removal fees, charge for blood cross match and blood transfusion, bed charges and when it’s safe to leave, ask you to pay for the discharge services among a raft of other new levies.
The cost of services in the ENT, Gynae and female wards range between Sh50 and Sh3000 according to the proposals. The levies are intended to boost the county government own source revenue pool that currently stand at Sh1.2 billion annually.
A patient checking in at an outpost dispensary will be required to show proof that he can afford the cost of medical services sought beforehand to get access. A Sh1000, is the minimum a patient would spent in a single visit, judging from the price list.
The proposals on health sector are a slap on the county government’s commitment to offer quality and affordable healthcare for the citizenry.
Kakamega county have suffered unending crisis from drugs and non-pharms shortages to low staff morale, which resulted in poor service delivery and significant low patient traffic in public hospitals .
The county government in an attempt to change the tide operationalized Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) at its Level four and five facilities, intended to drive financial independence.
Through the county finance Act 2023, services the level 4 and 5 facilities recorded a significant spike in cost but that has yet to cure the problems in the sector.
The taxation clause is in conflict with Sustainable Development Goal three, which expects governments to reduce human suffering due to preventable diseases and premature deaths by boosting health targets that focus on the majority of the population.
Health was one of the six pillars that anchored Kakamega governor Fernandez Barasa’s 2022 election. He had promised to ensure quality, access and affordable health service to residents.
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