Patients seeking treatment at the Murang’a Level 5 Hospital will be required to make payments at every service point.
The move was taken by the County Administration, to reduce long queues and congestion, which in the recent past have been witnessed at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)/cash service points.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata, announced that at every service point, there will be cashiers to help patients make required payments without going back and forth from the main cashpoint.
“My Administration has received feedback from residents concerning delays at our hospitals. Services at the major facilities have already been automated and we want to state that, we have devolved cashiers and NHIF services to every service point, to enable patients to make their payments without going back to the main cash office,” said Kang’ata in a press conference.
“If you are being served at a laboratory, pharmacy, or dental unit among others, you will get cashiers and NHIF services at those points. This will reduce the time patients are taking in the hospitals,” Governor Kang’ata said.
Last year, the County Administration introduced an automated system in all the public hospitals for the supply of goods and services.
Kang’ata noted this was aimed at curbing wastages and inefficiencies in the procurement of different services, taking into account that hospitals will spend money at the source.
The Governor further said they are implementing a Policy on Facilities Improvement Funds, where suppliers who service the hospitals are required to register in the portal, so they can be called on to make supplies when the need arises.
“This will hasten the provision of services and improve transparency in the payments. All revenue collected in the hospitals will remain at the facilities, to facilitate efficient service provision,” he added.
Kang’ata urged the residents to give his Administration time to streamline and improve service provision, especially in the health sector.
Meanwhile, the Governor has reorganized his Administration, by reshuffling some Chief Officers, to improve service delivery.
James Kanyi who was serving as Chief Officer for Public Health and Administration, was transferred to the Department of Infrastructure and Community Projects in an acting capacity, as his position was taken over by Eliud Maina.
Kang’ata also split the Department of Lands into two, giving birth to that of Survey and Lands Administration to be headed by Josephine Wanjiru and the Department of Planning to be headed by Brian Ndeleva, as acting Chief Officer.
By Bernard Munyao
