By M, KNA
The Principal Secretary (PS) for Health Dr. Fredrick Ouma Oluga has defended the health deal signed between Kenya and the United States of America (USA) in Washington DC last week, saying it will immensely improve the country`s health sector.
Speaking when he officiated the fifth training graduation at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Training and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Thursday, Dr. Oluga said the over Sh200 billion deal signed between the Government of Kenya and USA during a recent tour by President Ruto to US will see over 1.4million Kenyans who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and are on life prolonging drugs get their supplies without any interruption.
He stated that the deal will also help stem other health issues deviling the health sector by improving the quality of health in the country.
“We should know when to play populist and when to put the country first,” Oluga retorted.
The deal signed between Kenya and USA has faced sharp criticism from a section of the opposition and civil society who now want the Government to come clear on the contents of the deal, adding that Kenyans need to know what the Government negotiated on their behalf. And that it was going to expose confidential medical records of Kenyans to the world.
Indeed, the Consumer Federation of Kenya on Thursday went to court in Nairobi and obtained temporary orders stopping the Government from implementing the agreement.
During the graduation, 81 students graduated with Higher Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, Certificate in Peri-operative Theatre Technology, Certificate in Emergency Medical Technology and Certificate in Healthcare Record Assistance.
The PS has also urged the medical fraternity in the country to put what he referred to as humanizing the medical profession.
“What I mean is that lets serve the people with humility, professionalism and let the patients be satisfied with the service we provide to them to the extent that they can refer others to our institutions,” he stated.
Oluga revealed that they were working closely with regulatory bodies to ensure standardized, high-quality training curricula across the country, while promoting specialized training centres outside Nairobi like JOOTRH.
“On targeted training, we are strategically supporting institutions to offer advanced, specialized courses that address our critical national gaps—especially in areas like critical care, oncology, and surgical specialties,”.
The PS also announced that the ministry is leveraging technology to accurately track and map the workforce needs, ensuring that training investments are targeted to address shortages and maldistribution across our 47 counties.
Oluga at the same time lauded JOOTRH for their training noting that specialized training is particularly crucial in ensuring that the vital investments made by the Government in recruiting specialists such as the neurosurgeon and additional orthopedic surgeons is matched by a highly skilled team of nurses, technicians, and allied professionals capable of supporting complex interventions.
“The challenge of training a workforce that is fit for purpose both locally and globally is too vast for the government alone. We must deepen collaboration with the private sector; the training institutions, pharmaceutical companies, technology providers, and private hospitals,”
The Health PS noted that this will help to harmonize standards, share clinical expertise, and unlock investment in medical education. This strategic partnership is designed to ensure a steady supply of high-quality professionals, enhancing the resilience and capacity of our entire healthcare system.
JOOTRH Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joshua Clinton Okise said it has been a period of rapid and focused growth since JOOTRH was gazetted as a national parastatal and added that this institutional elevation was not merely a change in administrative status; it was a clear mandate to accelerate hospital`s vision of becoming a true Centre of Excellence in Specialized Services for the entire Lake region and beyond.
“Our top priority, as reflected even in our growing revenue, remains ensuring that we have the specialists and the specialized infrastructure required to deliver advanced medical care,” Dr. Okise said.
Accordingly, the CEO announced that the facility has recently successfully recruited crucial specialists, including a Neurosurgeon, an Epidemiological Hematologist, and three additional Orthopedic Surgeons, thus strengthening the capacity of the hospital in highly complex medical fields.
On the training at the facility, Dr. Okise indicated that their Higher Diploma Programs are crucial for specialized care in; Higher Diploma in Nephrology which is crucial ensuring the country has experts to manage complex kidney diseases.
The Higher Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, he said, was vital for managing patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and high-dependency settings, thus ensuring world-class critical support to the patients.
“Furthermore, we offer key certificate courses that fill essential roles in the healthcare ecosystem and these comprehensive health care training programs are designed to equip professionals with cutting-edge clinical skills and compassionate care approaches,”
Non-Executive Board Chairperson of JOOTRH Dr. Olang’o Onudi, appealed for more funding from the Government in order to put the facility to its new status by building the capacity of the human resource and infrastructure among other things in order to continue filling the gaps in healthcare in the country.
JOOTRH was elevated to Level Six through a special gazette notice dated June 18, 2025. This makes it eligible to receive funding allocations directly from the National Assembly to enhance service delivery.
The facility being the only level Six taken over by the national government from the Kisumu County government, now joins the ranks of leading national referral hospitals in Kenya, such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The other six have grown from the ground to become Level Six Hospital.
A transition committee is in place as plans are underway to recruit the board for the facility’s new status and absorb the staff who have been working under Kisumu County.
This elevation marks a fundamental moment for healthcare in the Nyanza region, Western region and across Kenya. The upgrade, sees JOOTRH transition from a county-managed facility to a state parastatal under the Ministry of Health.
As a level six facility, JOOTRH is set to offer a wider range of advanced medical services, including specialized surgeries, trauma care and high-level diagnostics.
The facility which currently has a capacity of 900 beds and 954 staff is set to expand to raise staff number to 2,500 to tame the deficiencies across departments.
This will see care quality improve, capacity expanded and recruitment of more specialists to meet growing patient needs.
The transition mirrors the milestone that the healthcare sector is taking in ensuring better healthcare services and facilities are accessible across the nation. It will now only receive referrals from other health facilities within and outside Kenya for specialized care through inpatient and outpatient referrals.
JOOTRH is now set to work with the national government on training and research, offering technical assistance to nearby health facilities and conducting research related to healthcare provision.