Lawmakers probe medical equipment leasing deal

Parliament has opened an inquiry into the new medical equipment leasing programme that mirrors the medical equipment service framework.

The development came after controversy rocked the new programme amid lamentations by the governors, who said they signed the new deal out of desperation.

In the probe, the senators, through the health committee, seek to establish the viability of agreements entered into by the Ministry of Health and counties under the National Equipment Support Programme (NESP).

NESP is a programme that seeks to supply and lease medical equipment to county public health facilities. The equipment would be used in the implementation of the new health programme under the Social Health Authority.

The senators want to unearth the names and credentials of suppliers contracted by the Ministry of Health to supply and lease medical equipment to county public health facilities.

The lawmakers want to know how the suppliers were selected and the criteria used in arriving at them.

“[MoH and county governments should] provide a detailed schedule of payments made by each county government under NESP in 2024-25,” nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, who sought the probe, said.

The investigations will find out any deductions made directly from the county government’s equitable share of revenue raised nationally.

Further, they want to know the role of the respective county governments and the Council of Governors in the negotiation and execution of agreements under NESP.

The senator said the entities will outline the steps taken to ensure strict compliance with public procurement laws and “state measures put in place to ensure that supplied medical equipment meets the required standards and are appropriately utilised once delivered to the health facilities”.