The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has come out guns blazing after it emerged that Senate was mulling over proposal to close Mama Lucy Hospital.
After listening to horrific tales of how patients are mistreated while accessing the health facility, senators indicated that closing the hospital was one of several options they would explore.
“These are lives that would have been saved. We must crack the whip and do whatever must be done, even if it means closing the hospital,’ said Wambua who is part of Senate Health Committee.
KMPDU dismissed the remarks as unacceptable and backward at a time when the nation is struggling to offer affordable healthcare to its citizens.
The union stated that the hospital serves a population of 2.1 million Kenyans with over 1800 Kenyans visiting the facility daily.
With 132 bed capacity and conducting over 1000 deliveries every day, Mama Lucy is one of the busiest hospitals and closure would crumble healthcare system in Kenya according to KMPDU.
The medical union says the country is in the midst of shortage of health workforce, drugs, ICU, theatres and other critical consumables and closing a hospital should never be considered.
If the hospital is closed, KMPDU feels that Nairobi Eastlands area will be greatly affected as most of the population depend on the facility.
"This is unacceptable & backward. The hospital has a bed capacity of 132, conducts approximately 1000 deliveries per month, has a busy outpatient," read part of a statement from the union.
Instead of closing Mama Lucy hospital, the senate health committee has been urged to look for ways to improve and strengthen available health delivery units.
"This move will adversely affect the entire population in Nairobi Eastlands by denying them the right to access timely, affordable and quality health care services," KMPDU stated.
Kenya continues to grapple with healthcare management after devolving of health docket, handing over the function to county governments.
Since the advent of devolution, the country has witnessed a number of strikes by healthcare workers, with many citing poor pay and working conditions.
Medical supplies are also a major challenge in most public hospitals, undermining delivery of heath care services.