Government signs deal for 15 hospitals as bed shortage persists
The government has signed an agreement with Italy and healthcare group GKSD to build 15 hospitals, as a shortage of beds continues to leave the country below the World Health Organization’s recommended level.
The deal, signed at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, provides for 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals across 15 counties.
The two Level 6 facilities will be in Mombasa and Uasin Gishu, while the 13 Level 5 hospitals will be built in Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Embu, Migori, Nyamira, Turkana, Kisii, Baringo, Bomet, Narok and Murang’a, among other counties.
President William Ruto said there are 12 hospital beds for every 10,000 people, compared with a World Health Organization benchmark of 25.
The proposed hospitals are intended to bring specialist treatment closer to patients and reduce the pressure on major referral centers, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The agreement was signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Italian representatives in the presence of Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, GKSD Group chairman Kamel Ghribi and governors.
The deal involves the government, Italy and Italian healthcare group GKSD. It is being implemented under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, which covers 18 partner countries and 76 projects.
The plan had an initial allocation of €5.5bn. Kenya is one of its priority countries.
For patients in counties that routinely send complex cases to national referral hospitals, the new facilities could reduce the need to travel to Nairobi or other major centers for specialist treatment. The Level 5 hospitals are intended to provide county referral services, while the Level 6 facilities will provide more complex treatment and teaching and referral services.
The agreement follows an earlier Kenya-Italy commitment in April to work together on upgrading hospitals from Level 4 to Level 5 and from Level 5 to Level 6 in 15 counties.
It also comes after the government announced plans for 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals, with the Health Ministry putting the cost of that program at KES29bn in August. The planned facilities were to have 300 beds each, with counties selected according to factors including population, disease burden, existing infrastructure and available funding.
The latest agreement does not yet mean construction can begin at all 15 sites. The National Treasury is expected to conclude financing arrangements with Italy, while the Health Ministry will handle the technical, regulatory and administrative work needed to start the program.
The government says the investment will support its Universal Health Coverage program by expanding access to specialized care and easing pressure on the country’s largest referral hospitals.
