Laikipia County Government has welcomed the opening of a new Pathcare Medical Laboratory branch in Nyahururu, saying the facility will complement diagnostic services offered by public health facilities in the county.
Laikipia County Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri said the private sector had an important role to play in supporting the county and national governments in improving access to healthcare.
“We are not competitors; we are partners because you are complementing what we have and offer. We are grateful that private facilities are going the extra mile of investing in equipment that, as a county, we cannot afford currently,” he said.
He said the Nyahururu branch was strategically located as the town serves as a healthcare convergence point for residents of Laikipia and neighbouring counties.
Kamuri said the county government was undertaking various measures to improve healthcare services but faced challenges in providing some specialised services and acquiring certain medical equipment.
He said private health facilities investing in equipment and diagnostic services could help address some of the gaps in the public health system.
The Deputy Governor said about 40 per cent of the county’s budget was allocated to healthcare, noting that despite the investment, there were areas where additional support was required.
Pathcare Medical Laboratory Managing Director Samuel Irungu said the decision to open the Nyahururu branch was informed by demand for laboratory services and the need to take diagnostic services closer to patients.
Irungu said Pathcare had operated in Nanyuki for three years and had identified Nyahururu as an important location because many residents travel long distances to access healthcare services.
“We are committed to continuing to take services closer to people,” he said.
Irungu said laboratory diagnosis was an important component of healthcare, noting that about 70 per cent of decisions made in hospitals depended on diagnostic results.
He said the laboratory provides more than 4,000 tests and handles specialised samples, including cancer specimens, which are sent to Nairobi for further analysis.
He said the laboratory was first accredited in 2002 and currently has about 60 branches.
Irungu said the expansion was part of efforts by the private sector to support public health facilities in meeting the demand for diagnostic services.
The new branch is expected to serve residents of Nyahururu and surrounding areas, including patients referred for laboratory investigations by healthcare providers.
By Antony Mwangi
