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One patient, one bed: Will congestion witnessed at PGH be a thing of the past?

Health CS Aden Duale issues a stern warning in Nakuru over patients sharing beds in hospitals during launch of Taifa care on July 23,2025.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

By  PURITY KINUTHIA

Correspondent

Mtaa Wangu

The terrifying scenes previously witnessed in Nakuru county hospital (PGH) where patients are forced to share beds or lie on the floor could soon be a thing of the past, if Health CS Aden Duale’s word is anything to go by.

Speaking during the launch of Taifa Care at Nyayo Gardens, Duale declared that no hospital will be allowed to admit patients beyond its bed capacity.
“Going forward, the patient is the boss. The Social Health Authority (SHA) will not pay a single cent to hospitals that exceed admissions beyond their bed capacity. This was a fraudulent practice that thrived under the NHIF era, but it will not be tolerated now,” he warns.

He further noted that patients have, in the past, been treated in hospitals without dignity, a trend the government is determined to end, noting no person deserves to be in an uncomfortable position while seeking treatment.

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Duale explains that, under the new guidelines, all hospital admissions must be processed through the SHA digital system, which provides real-time updates on the number of available beds and admissions in each facility.

“If you need to admit more patients, buy more beds and update the regulator or build a new ward,” Duale states firmly.

He also issued a stern warning to facilities attempting to bypass SHA regulations, saying they risk suffering the same fate as the 1,058 hospitals already shut down across the country over SHA-related irregularities.

“Let me make it clear, admit your patient through the system and also discharge them through the system. This allows for a streamlined process of making your claims. If this is not followed, then SHA has no business dealing with cunning health workers,” he states

Duale added that Nakuru County leads the country in SHA claims, with a total of 840,386 residents already registered representing 39% of the county’s total registered population. 

He also added that 409 healthcare providers within Nakuru county are working with SHA, and so far, claims worth Sh1.27 billion have already been disbursed.

So, the next time you are visiting the hospital take note of this, it's one patient, one bed and nothing less!