Murang'a County has opened a new wards and outpatient complex at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, in a bid to ease chronic congestion at a facility that Governor Irungu Kang'ata says is now handling more than double the inpatients it was built for.

Speaking at the opening, Kang'ata said daily outpatient attendance had risen from about 600 to between 1,500 and 2,000 over the past two to three years, with many patients coming from neighbouring counties.

"Murang'a Hospital was planned for 200 inpatients, and at times the figure rises to above 500 patients, leading to massive congestion in the medical wards," the governor said, according to The Standard.

What the new complex adds

Chief Officer for Health Eliud Maina said the complex adds 25 beds to relieve pressure on the existing wards, with officials saying it will cut queues and improve patient flow. The governor was accompanied by Health CEC Fredrick Mbugua.

  • Daily outpatients: up from about 600 to between 1,500 and 2,000.
  • Inpatients: up to 500 at times, in a hospital planned for 200.
  • New complex: 25 additional beds plus outpatient space.

The county has also opened dispensaries near Murang'a town, at Mukuyu, Kiangage and Muchungucha, to reduce unnecessary referrals to the Level 5 facility, the Kenya News Agency reported.

Courting insured patients

Kang'ata said the new wing is part of a plan to attract insured patients, including teachers, county workers and business people, who would otherwise go to private hospitals. He said the facility was partly a response to teachers who had asked for a dedicated space, but stressed that it is open to everyone.

"We want to bring that money back here. Once we get that money, we take it back to buy more medicine and other commodities, and therefore the quality of services across the hospital goes up," he said.

He added that the complex would allow medical consultants to run private practice within the hospital, which he said would help the county attract and keep specialists and speed up emergency response.

Kandara hospital also expanded

The governor also opened a new wing at Kandara Sub-County Hospital with a casualty department, a second operating theatre, a laboratory, a pharmacy, three consultation rooms, a gynaecology unit, a surgical ward and a forensic and dignity centre, Radio47 reported.

Earlier this year, the county asked residents to seek treatment at Level 4 hospitals and dispensaries after admissions at the referral hospital hit capacity, while plans to hire more health workers have been limited by the county's wage bill.

Photos: The Standard/Elvis Ogina; Kenya News Agency. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.