Mombasa County Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir has warned healthcare workers against treating patients inhumanely.
Speaking at Coast General hospital, Governor Nassir said Mombasa residents were not happy with how patients are treated by some healthcare workers.
“We are buying so much medicine, we have employed people but the biggest problem that we have is a humanity problem,” said Governor Nassir.
He questioned why patients would be sent to buy drugs outside health facilities where they have to spend more when the said drugs are available at the facilities.
“This hospital currently has some of the best services in terms of equipment and many other things that even some private facilities cannot offer, the missing link is that element of humanity,” said Governor Nassir.
His sentiments were supported by Deputy Governor Francis Thoya who said he will be making impromptu visits to facilities to see how patients are treated.
“Mombasa residents are complaining about service delivery in our health facilities, they say they are mistreated and not attended to as they should. You are being paid, when patients comes in treat them as they should be treated, even smile, do not be rude,” said DG Thoya.
“Treatment begins with how a patient is attended. The county can do all the good, supply drugs to the facilities, but if the service is poor then it is of no use. People will still say Mombasa healthcare system is poor,” he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Nassir has instructed that CCTV cameras be installed in all health facilities across the county to monitor how the hospitals are operated and avoid mistreatment of patients.
“If I as the governor cannot be rude to anyone, the deputy governor cannot be rude to anyone, what gives you the moral right that you are placed at a medical facility to be rude to patients?” posed Nassir.
He also called for punishment of those found treating patients cruelly.
County Inspectorate officers will be sent to health facilities with no security officers for safety of patients and facilities.