Suspension of Coast General Hospital CEO elicits mixed reactions

The Coast General Teaching and refferal Hospital/ JOHN CHESOLI

Acting county health executive Dan Manyala at the CGTRH on Monday / JOHN CHESOLI

The suspension of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO Iqbal Khandwallah on Sunday following public concerns raised by Mvita MP Mohamed Machele has elicited strong reactions from stakeholders.

Khandwallah was suspended indefinitely and replaced by Sood Mohamed in an acting capacity pending a full governance review process.

This followed concerns raised by Machele over leadership and service delivery at the facility after the death of one of his NG-CDF staff members at the hospital.

Ali Kibwana, 52, who had worked for Machele for over five years, collapsed and was taken to a private facility in Mvita before being transferred to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital on Saturday, February 14.

Kibwana was taken for a CT scan on Monday, where he was diagnosed with a severe stroke and required immediate surgery.

The surgery was later scheduled for Monday, February 23, following discussions between the MP and the hospital administration.

On Sunday, the Office of the County Secretary and Head of County Public Service, in the suspension letter, cited “serious institutional governance concerns" as part of the reasons for the action taken.

In the letter dated Sunday, February 22, the Office of the County Secretary and Head of County Public Service said the CGTRH board had discussed the matter during a special sitting.

“The board noted with concern a sustained deterioration in institutional governance climate and stakeholder relations affecting the hospital’s leadership interface with the community it serves and members of the public,” the letter read in part.

The board said the challenges had affected public confidence and the hospital’s operational environment.

“In view of the central role of CGTRH in the county health system and the need to preserve institutional stability, credibility and constructive stakeholder engagement, the board resolved that continued tenure of the CEO in the current circumstances is untenable pending further review.

“Accordingly, and in line with the applicable County Public Service governance framework under which the CEO serves, the board has recommended that the CEO be suspended from duty pending a full governance review process,” the letter stated.

The decision, however, was criticised by doctors at the facility and medical professionals elsewhere.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union national chair Abidan Mwachi defended the medical staff who treated Kibwana, saying standard operational procedures were followed in his management.

Mwachi said Kibwana was referred from a private facility, and there was about a 24-hour delay in the referral process.

Benjamin Okanga, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, said the extent of the brain bleeding and swelling made it difficult to perform open surgery.

He said the treatment option chosen was endovascular coiling, which required specialised equipment. He said the patient was scheduled for the procedure, but the required coil was not immediately available due to supply disruptions caused by outstanding debts to suppliers.

He said the patient’s condition deteriorated, and he was admitted to the ICU for stabilisation before the procedure was rescheduled.

He added that the treatment decision was made by the medical team.

He said the patient later developed complications from the brain injury, which led to irreversible brain damage and eventually death.

A psychiatrist at the hospital said the incident reflected broader systemic challenges affecting healthcare delivery in many facilities across the country.

The psychiatrist said these challenges affect service delivery, including efficiency in hospital operations.

He said responsibility for improving healthcare systems should be addressed through appropriate policy and legislative reforms.

He said the manner in which the CEO was suspended was disputed by some medical staff, who called for fair administrative processes.

However, acting County Health Executive Dan Manyala said the suspension was a standard procedural measure taken when serious concerns arise in a public institution.

He said the suspension did not imply guilt and that the CEO would be given a fair hearing before the hospital board.

He said the purpose of the procedure was to determine accountability and identify any gaps in service delivery or governance that may have contributed to adverse outcomes in order to strengthen patient safety.

Manyala said the facility was working to restore public confidence.

He said the CEO serves under contract and is supervised by the hospital board.

“Our focus is the welfare of the people of Mombasa and the integrity of their referral hospital,” Manyala said.

He expressed sympathy with families who have lost loved ones at the facility.

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir is expected to meet the hospital board to discuss measures to restore public trust in the facility.

The county government cautioned against any staff considering unlawful industrial action, stating that disruption of essential health services endangers lives and may attract disciplinary action