Pathcare Kenya Medical Laboratory CEO Sammy Irungu and Laikipia deputy governor Ruben Ngatia during the opening of a branch in Nyahururu/HANDOUTCounty governments and private healthcare providers have been challenged to complement each other’s efforts instead of competing in the delivery of health services to Kenyans.
Pathcare Kenya Medical Laboratory Chief Executive Officer Sammy Irungu and Laikipia Deputy Governor Ruben Ngatia made the call during the opening of Pathcare’s new branch in Nyahururu.
The facility is the 68th Pathcare Kenya Medical Laboratory branch in the country and is expected to expand access to specialised diagnostic services for residents of Laikipia and neighbouring counties.
Irungu said private healthcare providers should view themselves as partners in the government’s efforts to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare.
“Our role is to complement what the government is doing; we are not competitors,” Irungu said.
He said collaboration between the private sector and county governments was necessary to ensure that healthcare services were accessible to all Kenyans regardless of their economic status or geographical location.
“We need to ensure health services are available to everyone regardless of socio-economic status, their geographical location notwithstanding,” he said.
Irungu said the expansion of Pathcare’s network would help reduce the need for patients to travel to Nairobi or outside the country in search of specialised laboratory tests.
He said specialised tests would increasingly be made available closer to patients, helping to bring healthcare services closer to the people while reducing the cost and inconvenience associated with travelling long distances.
The CEO also called on more investors to continue putting resources into the healthcare sector, saying increased investment would help expand access to specialised services across the country.
He, however, stressed the need for healthcare providers to maintain high standards while ensuring that services remain affordable to ordinary Kenyans.
Staff at Pathcare Kenya Medical Laboratory and guests cut the cake during the opening of a branch in Nyahururu/HANDOUTNgatia welcomed the opening of the Nyahururu branch, saying partnerships with private healthcare providers would strengthen the county’s efforts to improve health services.
“We are proud and appreciate any effort to strengthen the healthcare system,” Ngatia said.
He thanked Pathcare for bringing specialised healthcare services closer to residents and for complementing the work being undertaken by the county government.
“Thank you for offering specialised healthcare and complementing what the county government is doing,” he said.
Ngatia said Laikipia County had invested significantly in healthcare but acknowledged that government resources alone could not meet all the needs of residents.
“Laikipia we have invested so much in healthcare, we are talking about Sh1.2 billion, but that cannot be enough without partnerships,” he said.
The two leaders also called for an accommodative policy framework that would support investment in healthcare and make specialised services more affordable.
