Senators to probe surge in clinics near county hospitals

Senators should investigate the alarming cases of drugs expiring on shelves in county hospitals, yet these facilities were accused of perennially lacking drugs.

The appeal came from governors, who also want Parliament to amend the health law to curb the proliferation of private clinics and chemists around county hospitals.

In addition, the county bosses want the law changed to compel medical doctors, especially consultants, to stay in their work stations.

“It is ironic that I am being accused of not having drugs in my facilities at the same time drugs are expiring. The two cannot agree,” Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said.

He spoke when he appeared before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee to respond to audit queries on Longisa County Referral Hospital. In the report, the auditor flagged expired drugs.

“We need the support of the senate to see how we can address some of these issues. We could be addressing symptoms, yet we have a bigger underlying issue,” Barchok said.

The governor said there is a possibility some county officers in public hospitals were intentionally denying patients drugs and instead referring them to private clinics.

“Could it be a way of promoting business outside? As senators, you need to come up with a law to cure this problem,” he said.

The law should specify the distance within which a private clinic or chemist can be established from the main county facility.

Barchok also sought the senators’ help to deal with ‘absentee’ medics, who are paid a lot of money by counties, but spend only a few hours at work. The bulk of the time is dedicated to their private facilities.

“The medical officers we hire have [private] clinics. They spend 90 per cent of their time in their clinics These are some of the things that we need to align,” he said.

Senate’s Committee chairman Godfrey Osotsi said the expiry of drugs in public hospitals is common, adding that the health committee should inquire into this issue.