13th Feb 2015 According to the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, The government will donate and distribute modern healthcare equipment to two hospitals in each county in the country over the next 10 years. Equipment will be especially focused in the areas of theatre, surgical and sterilization, lab, kidney dialysis, ultrasound and digital x-ray equipment.
The president made the announcement when he spoke at the signing of contracts for the Managed Equipment Services project at State House, in Nairobi, where he is quoted as saying “We want to collaborate with county governments and the medical profession to ensure that Kenyans travel abroad for treatment only because they want to, and not because they have to,”
President Kenyatta said the project which will cost about thirty eight billion Kenyan shillings, will be launched in 2016. It is fully financed by the government through the Health ministry, and that intensive care facilities will be provided as well in the project. According to him, a “transparent, cost-effective and innovative financing system” has been put in place to ensure sustainability, and the companies which have been contracted to supply the equipment will install, maintain and replace it, when the need arises.
President Kenyatta also used the occasion to encourage his people to acquire medical insurance, according to him, “This will guarantee every Kenyan’s right to the highest attainable standard of health regardless of their location,” .
The country’s Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the manufacturers of the medical equipment from companies such as General Electric, Philips, Belico SRL, Esteem, and Mindray Biomedical Company, were selected through competitive international bidding.