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Duale bans bed sharing in public hospitals
He said hospitals must expand their infrastructure if they intend to admit more patients
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a firm directive to end the practice of bed sharing in public hospitals, terming it a violation of patient dignity and a misuse of public resources.
Speaking in Mombasa during a session with the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health, chaired by Dr James Nyikal, the CS warned health facilities against over-admitting patients beyond their official capacity.
He directed the Social Health Authority (SHA) to vet hospital claims based strictly on licensed bed capacity, noting that claims for patients sharing beds will be treated as fraudulent.
“If facilities wish to admit more patients, they must invest in expanding their infrastructure,” Duale said.
“Bed sharing will now be treated as insurance fraud, and institutions involved will be held accountable.
”This directive comes as part of broader reforms under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda aimed at improving standards of care, enforcing accountability, and ensuring patients are treated with dignity.”
He said hospitals must expand their infrastructure if they intend to admit more patients.
The session brought together the ministry of Health, Council of Governors, and other stakeholders for a two-day retreat on UHC implementation.
