Mombasa residents have expressed concerns about the quality of medical services at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (Makadara).
Some residents have complained about long waiting times, stating that patients often spend hours before receiving treatment, while others remain unattended depending on the severity of their condition.
In an interview with Baraka FM, residents led by Robinson Ngure claimed that some patients face discrimination when seeking medical attention at the facility.
Ngure alleged that access to proper medical care often depends on personal connections within the hospital.
“If you don’t have a relative, friend, or acquaintance working at the facility, you risk not receiving the best care,” he said.
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He also raised concerns about corruption within the hospital, claiming that some health officials are involved in the illegal transfer of drugs and medical equipment to private hospitals.
“Patients are sometimes forced to seek treatment at private hospitals for services that should be available at Coast General, as some essential drugs disappear after being procured,” he added.
However, some residents have acknowledged improvements in the hospital’s service delivery.
Florence Wanjala noted that patient reception has improved compared to previous experiences.
“The commotion and long queues have significantly reduced,” she said, also highlighting advancements in medical equipment and infrastructure.
Despite these improvements, residents have urged the county government to recruit more health officials to handle the high number of patients visiting the hospital daily.
Stephen Rabala emphasized that hiring additional health workers would greatly enhance service delivery at the facility.