A scandal involving the misappropriation of healthcare funds in Kisumu County has sparked widespread concern among human rights organizations.
The Community Initiative Action Group (CIAG) and Open Institute’s recent report reveals alarming practices at lower-level health facilities, where patients are illegally charged without receipts.
Chris Owala, CEO of CIAG, has pointed fingers at the County Health Department, particularly criticizing Health CEC Gregory Ganda.
With millions unaccounted for across seven sub-counties, this revelation underscores systemic issues in financial management.
The report also highlights patient dissatisfaction due to medicine shortages and prolonged wait times, prompting calls for urgent reforms.
Theft of Health Funds: Illegal Charges and Accountability Issues
Human rights organizations have sounded alarms about the misappropriation of millions meant for healthcare in Kisumu County.
The Community Initiative Action Group (CIAG) and Open Institute recently released a report exposing illegal charges at low-level health facilities. They found that 35% of patients were unlawfully billed without receiving receipts.
CIAG’s CEO, Chris Owala, blamed the County Health Department for these illegal charges at levels 1, 2, and 3 facilities.
Allegations have targeted County Executive Committee Member of Health, Gregory Ganda, for failing to prevent these losses.
Owala highlighted significant financial losses due to unaccounted collections across Kisumu County’s seven sub-counties: Kisumu Central, Kisumu East, Kisumu West, Seme, Nyando, Muhoroni, and Nyakach.
“The act of charging patients for free services without issuing receipts amounts to corruption,” Owala asserted.
The report also revealed that 60% of patients expressed dissatisfaction with service quality, citing medicine shortages and long wait times at health facilities.
Advocates are now pushing for reforms in Kisumu County’s health sector to improve service delivery and curb financial mismanagement that harms patients.
CIAG has petitioned the Kisumu County Assembly and Health CEC Gregory Ganda for increased healthcare funding amidst corruption concerns.
“Healthcare is a constitutional right, and proper funding is crucial to save lives and prevent budgetary corruption,” Owala emphasized.
He also called for hiring more health workers to reduce patient wait times, noting severe shortages of doctors and nurses in Kisumu’s health facilities.
Owala criticized the restrictions on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards in some facilities, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket for medications.
He also highlighted shortages of basic medical equipment like x-ray machines. Efforts for reform continue, with plans for further surveys to gather input from health service providers.