By Salim Mutuma
The government has sent a warning to private hospitals charging extremely high prices for Covid-19 care forcing families and friends to conduct fundraisers to offset the bills for their loved ones.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, during the launch of an accelerated vaccination campaign in Kiambu County, said it was unfortunate that such hospitals were capitalizing on someone’s sickness to make a profit.
Kagwe maintained that such was unreasonable and not allowed and appealed to the facilities to ensure self-regulation before the government comes in.
A section of private health care providers attributed the increased prices to increased cost of medical equipment, medicine and doctors’ fees that finally end up to the final consumer who is the patient.
Early this month, the MPs agreed to proposed amendments to the law that will grant the State power to stem doctors’ fees and medical fees in a bid to cut down the high cost of health care services.
The amendments to the Health Act 2017 that were agreed on by the Parliamentary Committee will see medical charges determined by an 11-member council that includes the Attorney-General and the Principal Secretary for Health.
