The Council of Governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya has
appeared before the Senate ad-hoc committee on Managed Equipment Services (Mes)
procured in counties by the health ministry.
Oparanya is appearing before the ad-hoc committee with a
single stand from all the 47 Governors concerning Mes.
Governors claim that Mes has been very useful to the counties
as they continue using the equipment, however there was no consultation with
them and the health ministry.
“Counties are not aware of the terms between the Ministry of
Health and the various parties involved. Counties are currently paying 200m for
the equipment every year up from 95m. The amount however is deducted at source,”
read a twit from CoG twitter handle.
They add that in some Counties there was duplication, as they
received equipment they had already obtained.
County Governments were requested to give two high volume
hospitals that would benefit from Managed Equipment Services.
In April, Governors urged the Senate to establish a select
committee to investigate the viability of Mes, citing instances of paying for
the equipment annually yet not all the counties received them.
The Sh63 billion
Managed Equipment Services was introduced by the ministry of health in 2016, to
help support devolution of equitable, accessible, affordable and quality health
care in Counties.
A total of 98 (2 hospitals in each of the 47 counties) and 4
national hospitals were selected to benefit from the specialized medical
equipment being provided under the Mes programme.
The programme was to provide care to medical equipment
ranging from Theatre Equipment ( at both level 4 &5), Sterilization
Equipment and Theatre Instruments( at both level 4&5), Renal Dialysis
Equipment (level 5 and 2 national hospitals), Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Equipment (at 11 hospitals countrywide), X-ray and other Imaging Equipment (at
both level 4&5 and 4 national hospitals).
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