Billions shillings of taxpayer’ money is going down the drain in the controversial Sh63 billion leased medical equipment services (MES) programme, a new report shows. The report titled ‘The Leasing of Medical Equipment Project in Kenya: Value for Money Assessment’ was authored by the Institute of Economic Affairs. MES involves leasing of assorted medical equipment – including ICU facilities, surgical theatres, radiology and renal equipment– to 104 select county and national government hospitals. The hidden costs and the opaqueness by the Health ministry to explain the sudden increase raises the risk of corruption, the report said. The medical equipment should be redistributed based on the needs assessment and the disease burden in every county, the report said.

Source: The Star June 19, 2020 02:03 UTC