State in talks with private hospitals as KNH cancer machines collapse
A radiotherapist sets up a radiotherapy machine at Kenyatta National Hospital. The cancer treatment is set to resume on March 22, 2015 after one of the hospital's two machines that had broken down was repaired. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
Nairobi Hospital had agreed to offer radiotherapy treatment to 50 patients each week for free, leaving more than 400 patients already on treatment at KNH in limbo.
The two machines that broke down at KNH are the only ones in the entire public health sector.
More than 1,000 people are on the waiting list at KNH, with more booked upto 2017.
The Health ministry is in talks with Aga Khan and MP Shah hospitals to treat cancer patients at subsidised rates following the breakdown of radiotherapy machines at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Health secretary James Macharia Thursday said Nairobi Hospital had agreed to offer radiotherapy treatment to 50 patients each week for free, leaving more than 400 patients already on treatment at KNH in limbo.
KNH had only two overworked radiotherapy machines, which have since broken down and will not be in use until April, putting hundreds of lives at risk from one of the country’s leading killers.
It charges Sh500 per session of radiotherapy while others like MP Shah, Aga Khan and Nairobi hospitals levy a fee of about Sh10,000 per session.
“We would like to negotiate for a favourable rate so that the patients can get the treatment at discounted prices,” Mr Macharia told the Business Daily Thursday, in reference to the talks with the private hospitals.
He did not disclose the rate at which the government will be comfortable to pay the private hospitals that remain out of reach of ordinary Kenyans, in a country mired in poverty and where the unemployment rate stands at above 40 per cent.
The two machines that broke down at KNH are the only ones in the entire public health sector.
The couch of one of the machines got spoilt while the other one was affected by a power surge. The affected parts of these radiotherapy machines need to be imported from Canada.
“But everything should be back to normal by April,” said Mr Macharia.
This means cancer patients will have to wait for more weeks to access radiotherapy treatment at KNH.
More than 1,000 people are on the waiting list at KNH, with more booked upto 2017. Cancer is the third leading killer disease after malaria and pneumonia, according to the 2014 Economic Survey.
The official data show that reported deaths from cancer have been on the rise recently, climbing from 11,995 in 2010 to 12,574 in 2012 and 13,720 in 2013.
Deaths from malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis have been declining over the same period, reflecting the public health crisis brought home by cancer at a time when the country is reeling from shortage of doctors who can handle the deadly disease.
While the government has inked a Sh42 billion leasing deal that will see 94 hospitals across the country get medical equipment, the pact does not include radiotherapy machines.
Half of the Sh42 billion will be used to acquire machines that will help in cancer diagnosis like ultrasound units, digital x-rays and mammogram machines.
Thursday, Mr Macharia told the Business Daily that phase two of this project—being implemented by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Bank— will involve the installation of radiotherapy treatment facilities in four counties at an approximated cost of Sh4 billion.
“This should be completed by September,” added Mr Macharia.
The hospitals targeted include KNH in Nairobi, Coast General Hospital in Mombasa, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, and the Nyeri Provincial General hospital in Nyeri . Each of these hospitals will be equipped with two radiotherapy machines.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
