Kitui health authorities have cautioned politicians and members of the public against taking advantage of vulnerable patients for political mileage.
Health and sanitation executive Ruth Koki said political interests should never compromise patients’ safety, dignity or access to essential medical care.
“Leaders and members of the public are advised not to create a situation where vulnerable patients are made to leave hospital without completing their medical procedures simply because of political gain,” she cautioned.
Koki spoke during a press conference at the Kitui County Referral Hospital on Tuesday. This followed a visit to the facility by former Kitui Governor Charity Kaluki Ngilu, who had gone to assist some patients settle their medical bills.
She said the county government was concerned about the circumstances surrounding the release of 19 patients from the hospital without completing the required clinical and administrative procedures.
Koki clarified the incident, which occurred at the Kitui County Referral Hospital last Friday, following Ngilu's visit.
“I want to address the matter with the seriousness it deserves. It is not about politics. It concerns the safety and dignity of patients, the integrity of health facilities and accountability in the use of public resources,” she said.
According to Koki, Ngilu arrived at the hospital intending to help mothers clear their outstanding medical bills, but ended up facilitating the release of 19 patients without following the required procedures, leaving an unpaid bill of more than Sh300,000.
She acknowledged, however, that Ngilu returned to the hospital on Tuesday and paid Sh215,000, leaving a balance of Sh128,950.
Koki said the county government had no objection to leaders, organisations, institutions, or individuals helping patients settle their medical bills, provided established procedures were followed.
“There is a clear distinction between assisting a patient and the unprocedural release of patients from hospital. We must never allow political gain to compromise the health and lives of our patients,” she said.
She said her department’s immediate priority was to ensure all 19 patients released unprocedurally were safe, accounted for and assisted in completing their medical care and formal discharge processes.
Koki said hospital officials had since reached out to the affected patients and managed to trace 10 of them, who returned to the facility to complete the necessary clinical and administrative steps. The remaining nine patients were still being traced.
She also urged Kitui residents to enrol with the Social Health Authority (SHA), stating the scheme helps reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and promotes timely access to essential healthcare services.
