Concerns Raised as Closure of Mediheal Hospitals Looms in Uasin Gishu

Residents of Uasin Gishu have expressed their concerns and call on the government to intervene as rumours circulate about the potential closure of Mediheal hospitals.

According to them, the closure of these hospitals would not only impact the availability of healthcare services but also result in a significant loss of jobs for many individuals.

In addition, residents fear that the absence of Mediheal hospitals could lead to increased challenges for Kenyans seeking transplant services, as they would have to seek treatment outside the country at a much higher cost.

The residents are urging the government, particularly President William Ruto, to intervene and ensure the continued operation of Mediheal hospitals. They emphasise that these hospitals have served the healthcare needs of many individuals in the region.

Closure would not only deprive the community of accessible healthcare but also result in the loss of approximately 700 jobs. This would have a significant ripple effect on the local economy and livelihoods of numerous families.

"We request our president to help Mediheal continue because it has assisted many people. The employees are nearly seven hundred," said a resident.

Mediheal hospitals have played a crucial role in providing transplant services at an affordable cost. By significantly reducing the expenses associated with seeking treatment abroad, particularly in India, the hospitals have made life-saving procedures accessible to many Kenyans.

With the potential closure of Mediheal, residents fear that patients will once again face the burden of travelling abroad, which incurs expenses exceeding three million Kenyan shillings.

This would place a heavy financial burden on patients and their families, creating barriers to essential healthcare.

"Mediheal has started performing transplants. It has significantly reduced the cost of going to India for these procedures, even accepting payments through NHIF for less than five hundred thousand shillings. If this hospital closes, it would mean that many patients will have to resume seeking treatment abroad, which would cost them over three million shillings," added another resident.

Residents commend the hospital’s founder and former Kesses MP, Dr Swarrup Mishra, for his empathetic nature and commitment to providing quality healthcare services.

Unlike other healthcare facilities, residents say Mishra has shown compassion towards patients, particularly when medical bills have become overwhelming.

His empathetic approach has earned him praise from the community, who view him as a healthcare provider prioritising patient well-being over financial gains.

"When the bill becomes high, Dr. Mishra has always shown compassion, unlike other hospitals," said a resident.

Mediheal operates ten hospitals in major towns across Kenya, including Nairobi, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru, and even Kigali, Rwanda. These hospitals have served as vital healthcare hubs, catering to the medical needs of a diverse range of patients.