Permanent Secretary for medical services Dr. Ouma Oluga toured Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) to inspect the level of implementation of specialized services projects, especially cardiology and radiology special services being offered at the facility.
The PS affirmed that the special cardiology services can now be offered at MTRH where special heart surgical procedures can be performed without necessarily opening the vital organ.
“I have come here today to inspect the implementation of the cardiac lab or catheterization to ensure that we don’t launch projects that are not functional,” said Dr. Oluga.
He lauded the Moi Teaching and Referral hospital administration for the role it plays to support the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by offering basic and specialized medical services to over 1.5 million patients annually.
He further stated that they have a plan to streamline human resources and train the staff to gain specialized skills which will see Kenyans not seeking high end medication like heart surgeries abroad anymore.
He also commended MTRH for exemplary advanced radiology services in cancer treatment which has attracted patients from the 27 counties and other neighboring countries.
Oluga urged Kenyans to register and pay for Social Health Authority (SHA) so that they get free medical services in hospitals across the country, noting that the SHA systems are working and effective and it is true that Kenyans can access specialized services as it pays up to 99 percent on all treatment charges on cancer and other chronic illnesses.
He added that as a ministry they are still working on the delays being experienced in approving payments for dialysis services.
On his part, The Chief Executive Officer, MTRH, Dr. Philip Kirwa, said that they have done 10 Catheterization lab surgeries for the first time.
By Fredrick Maritim and Ekuwam Sylvester
