Kirinyaga hailed as trailbraizer in implemetation of new health financing model as Tharaka Nithi and Taita Taveta counties benchmark

County Government of Kirinyaga has been described as a trailblazer in the roll out and efficient use of the Facility Improvement Financing (FIF) which has given public hospitals, authority to retain and use own source revenue.

Kirinyaga has already operationalized the FIF model by appointing hospital boards and committees which are supposed to oversee prudent use of funds generated by medical facilities on some of the operating costs.

Speaking during a benchmarking visit by Members of Tharaka Nithi County Assembly and senior health officials from Taita Taveta County, the delegation said Kirinyaga represents the best learning and knowledge-sharing County on health services delivery and facilities improvement financing.

The delegation said Kirinyaga has shown FIF is a step in the right direction as it has resulted into improved health services, and helped facilities increase on their revenue collection.

The team toured the 341-bed capacity medical complex at the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital where they were taken through the Outpatient department, newborn unit, pediatric ward, ICU, HDU, theater, male and female wards.

Chogoria Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Franklin Mawira, said the county leadership was impressed by the successful roll-out of FIF and the ongoing transformation of the health sector in the County.

He said Kirinyaga had greatly improved on health infrastructure and service delivery hence making it an ideal destination for benchmarking. In 2023, another delegation from Tharaka Nithi County executive also visited the facility.

Mawira said the MCAs had taken note of the untra-modern Kerugoya Medical Complex and its functioning, innovative approaches to healthcare among them deployment of technology like the Hospital Management Integrated System which ensures accountability, monitoring and evaluation of the healthcare system.

“This hospital is run very well. The new-born unit is a game changer for mothers. You also have a functional psychiatry department that reduces overreliance on national facilities like Mathari. FIF is clearly working here, it is the way to go,” Mawira said.

Ngariama Ward MCA Daniel Kibinga, representing Kirinyaga County Assembly, said he was pleased to witness firsthand, how the FIF legislation passed by the County Assembly is helping to transform healthcare delivery.

“We have seen it for ourselves, and it is working,” he said. “Kerugoya County Referral Hospital is running efficiently. If something breaks down, the board can approve immediate use of funds. There’s no delay waiting for the Controller of Budget,” he added.

Taita Taveta County’s Chief Officer for Health, Violet Mkamburi, said the devolved unit is preparing to construct a level five and therefore the visit aimed at drawing lessons on design, units, utilities and the running of a modern hospital.

She said the Kerugoya medical complex had exceeded their expectations and the team had picked vital lessons on service delivery.

“We choose this hospital because we had heard great things and what we have seen today confirms all the good things we heard. We have found exactly what we are looking for and we shall implement some of these best practices back home,” Mkamburi said.

She added that the lessons picked from Kirinyaga would also guide improvements the management of Taita Taveta’s own health facilities. Dr. Mwendia Mutema, Head of Infectious Diseases said the successful implementation of the FIF had been made possible through deliberate effort by the Governor Waiguru who has ensured all the legal requirements have been met.

“We are among the few counties implementing this fund successfully. Most of our recurrent services run smoothly now. The demand for quality and affordable health care services has continued to increase and FIF is helping us meet some of our healthcare demands. ,” said Dr. Mutema.

So far, seven counties among them; Turkana, Laikipia, Kiambu, Nyeri, Bomet, Tharaka Nithi and Taita Taveta visited the facility on a learning tour.

Governor Anne Waiguru has said the bench marking visits are a testament that the health sector transformation in Kirinyaga was bearing fruit adding that her administration has invested heavily in infrastructural and service delivery reforms, bringing about a robust healthcare system that is responsive to the growing demand for contemporary and high-quality services.

“The opening of state-of-the-art Medical Complex that has elevated the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital to a level five facility that is now offering comprehensive medical services for which residents have always been referred to Nairobi has been a game-changer,” she said.

Recent survey released by Infotrak ranked Kirinyaga’s health sector number three in terms of performance among counties in the country.

Waiguru added tha the benchmarking visits by delegations from six counties was an indication the devolved units had seen some of the best practices to borrow and implement in their counties.