Nairobi West Hospital threaten to suspend police, prisons medical provision over Sh0.6billion debt
The Nairobi West Hospital (TNWH) has threatened to discontinue medical provision to the members of the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Prison Services (KPS) over a demanded outstanding bill amounting to Sh576,785,334, The Informer Media Group can authoritatively reveal.
According to records seen by us, on September 30, 2023, the hospital raised a debt settlement demand amounting to Sh626,785,334.
On November 6, 2023, Nairobi West Hospital confirmed having received Sh50million.
Consequently, The Nairobi West Hospital (TNWH) threatened to discontinue the medical services scheme for police and prison officers over a Sh576,785,334 outstanding debt through a correspondence reference number FINB/MAKL/OS/14112023/NPS dated November 14, 2023.
In one of the correspondences, the hospital said that the debt has crippled the facility financially to the extent of being unable to pay doctors, service providers and suppliers “thus negatively impacting our procurement of medicine and other consumables.” Some of the documents seen by The Informer Media Group reads in part.
“Please note that the above amounts continue to accrue as the medical services provider continues to provide services to your members. In effect, the company has exceeded its credit limit of Ksh 200million as indicated in clause 13(p) of the contract. Please note that failure to fulfill your contractual obligations on payment has led to constraint in the hospital’s operations including but not limited to inability to pay inter alia our doctors, service providers and suppliers thus negatively impacting our procurement of medicine and other consumables.” A letter addressed to Parmanand Mishra, Medical Administrator Kenya Limited and copied to Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome and Commissioner General of Prisons by Vishvesh Trivedi, Head of Finance at The Nairobi West Hospital Limited dated November 14, 2023 reads in part.
When contacted for comment, the hospital management did not confirm if or not the claimed outstanding debt quoted amounting to Sh0.6billion has been settled or not.
Also, they did not confirm if the amounts claimed have been audited and verified.
“With respect to our letter with reference number: FIN/MAKL/OS/14112023/NPS, dated 14th November 2023, we confirm that The Nairobi West Hospital Ltd has continued to offer all medical services (including but not limited to IPD / OPD / Pharmacy) to the members of the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Services (KPS) and their dependents. Thanks & Regards, Vishvesh Trivedi Head – Finance The Nairobi West Hospital Ltd.” Trivedi told The Informer Media Group through a mail response.
The claims comes in the wake of ongoing probe into the fraudulent claims and payments amounting to billions of shillings involving suspected rogue officials at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and unscrupulous private medical facilities across the country.
In January this year, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said NHIF had been turned into a heist center after an investigation revealed that Sh20billion had been lost.
Forthwith, she announced the suspension of twenty-seven hospitals at the centre of the Sh171million fraud probe at NHIF.
“Between January and December 2023, out of 67 audited hospitals, 27 were found to be involved in fraudulent activities, resulting in a loss of Sh171 million.” Nakhumicha said.
“Extrapolating this to the total population of 8,886 hospitals, it is estimated that approximately 3,440 might have been engaged in fraudulent activities, potentially exceeding Sh20 billion in losses from about 40 per cent fraudulent hospitals. Luckily 60 per cent carry out clean business.” She added.
