KENYA – The newly appointed Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha Wafula has called for a balanced, holistic and people-centered approach in the management of public healthcare services in Kenya.
She has taken over the reins of power at the Ministry of Health in Kenya, pledging to continue building on her predecessor’s successes while improving on some areas to deliver quality health services to Kenyans.
Nakhumicha maintained that she is committed to her transformational agenda aimed at improving health outcomes in the country during her maiden visit at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNT) as Health CS.
“The government remains keen in supporting KNH deliver on its mandate. In addition, I will be closely monitoring progress at the country’s largest referral facility to ensure that it provides reliable and quality services to patients,” she assured the KNH management.
In addition, an official statement confirms that she was accompanied by Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Kenya.
“Public health facilities must enhance productivity. Outcomes rather than abstract plans remain the most significant in the eyes of the public,” Nakhumicha stated.
Furthermore, the Health CS advised the hospital management to purchase more locally produced products as the government has prioritized support for local industries in a bid to drive wider regional growth.
“You need to automate all your processes including tendering and outpatient services. It is a bold decision you must take,” she added.
KNH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Evanson Kamuri said a combination of obsolete equipment, old infrastructure, low automation processes along with breakdown in referral system and growth in the number of indigents are key obstacles facing the hospital.
Commenting on challenges facing the oldest hospital in Kenya, he pledged to sustain ongoing reforms at the facility including the hospital management’s efforts to fast track automation of its processes targeted at enhancing efficiency.
“During her visit at the hospital, the CS visited the accident and emergency area, resuscitation room, prime care centre as well as the trauma theatre that attends to victims of fires and accidents,” the press release by the Ministry of Health further said.
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