Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is set to significantly expand its private wing, Prime Care Centre, with plans to increase bed capacity from the current 32 to 200.
This is part of a broader strategy to enhance specialised and premium healthcare services in the Lake Region following the elevation of the facility to a National Referral Hospital under the Ministry of Health.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joshua Okise said the expansion will position Prime Care as a key centre for advanced and niche medical services while easing pressure on the main referral hospital.
Speaking in Kisumu during Prime Care’s end-of-year staff party, Dr. Okise said the facility was also planning to establish a specialised diabetic centre to respond to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
“We are scaling up Prime Care to meet the increasing demand for specialised services. The expansion from 32 to 200 beds will allow us to offer more comprehensive care while improving service delivery across the hospital,” said Dr. Okise.
He added that the private wing was on course to be fully registered by January 2026 as JOOTRH’s official private facility, a move expected to strengthen its legal, operational and revenue framework.
Prime Care, which has been operational for just over a year, he said, has recorded rapid growth in both infrastructure and service capacity.
The expansion of the facility, he added, was part of JOOTRH’s wider efforts to modernise services, attract specialised professionals and strengthen its position as a leading referral hospital in western Kenya
Speaking during the same occasion, Laboratory Specialist Duncan Airo said the unit had expanded from modest beginnings to a facility capable of handling complex diagnostic tests.
“We started with just one microscope. Today, the laboratory has the capacity to support a wide range of tests, which has greatly improved efficiency and reduced turnaround time for patients,” he said.
JOOTRH’s nursing leadership praised the quality of care at the facility, with Director of Nursing Services Teresa Okiri saying Prime Care’s standards rival those of established private hospitals.
“The quality of services here is exemplary. It is a facility I would personally choose for care,” she said, urging staff to maintain professionalism as the centre grows.
Prime Care Centre Director Florentinus Ndinya attributed the facility’s growth to positive patient feedback and consistent investment in quality service delivery.
“Our reputation has been built on patient experience. As we expand, our focus remains on maintaining high standards while increasing access to specialised care,” Ndinya said.
By Chris Mahandara
