Senate health committee decries poor conditions in hospitals

A Senate committee has raised concern over stalled promotions, poor infrastructure and delayed Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements that continue to cripple healthcare delivery in several counties.

The Senate Committee on Health, led by Senator Mariam Omar, made the observations during an oversight visit to Kitui, Makueni and Machakos counties, where lawmakers inspected Level 5 and Level 4 hospitals to assess service delivery, infrastructure and resource use.

The senators found that many health workers have remained in the same job group for over 12 years without promotion, a situation they said had hurt morale and consequently patient care.

They also cited significant delays in the processing of SHA reimbursements and claims, warning that the problem was disrupting the supply of essential medicines and services.

At Kitui County Referral Hospital, the committee observed acute congestion, inadequate bed capacity and water shortages.

“We can do better, good people. I’m very disappointed to see six(6) patients sharing one bed--three(3) infants and their mothers. This should not happen in this era,” lamented Senator Tabitha Mutinda.

The senators further noted equipment gaps, including a missing mammogram machine at Kitui Level 5 and non-functional X-ray machines in several hospitals.

Poor record-keeping and outdated systems also drew criticism. “Facilities should use reliable and secure digital systems. These are not only essential for revenue collection and tracking but also for protecting patient data,” said Senator Omar.

Despite the challenges, the committee encouraged healthcare workers to remain dedicated and optimistic, promising that its forthcoming report would propose practical reforms to strengthen county health systems.

Governors from the three counties acknowledged the existing gaps but blamed delays in SHA reimbursements for much of the strain facing public facilities.

The committee will now retreat to compile its findings and prepare a comprehensive report with recommendations to the Senate.