No patient should be turned away for lack of space or bed capacity in either public or private hospitals in the country, senators have demanded. The Senate Health Committee wants the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to strictly enforce provisions of the Public Health Act to ensure all Kenyans get access to health services. The upsurge in the number of Covid-19 cases has seen most hospitals across country stretched to capacity. Patient demands have outstripped both general and ICU bed capacity, forcing some facilities to either turn away patients or devise alternative ways to cope with the increasing numbers. Sections 36, 38 and 42 of the Public Health Act (Cap 242) on the rules of prevention of disease gives the Ministry of Health, headed by CS, powers to contain the disease.

Source: The Star March 30, 2021 16:41 UTC