- Health CS Aden Duale gives referral hospitals 7 days to submit audit reports.
- Reports must highlight existing gaps, actions taken, and urgent fixes needed.
- Hospitals told to develop or update crisis communication plans.
- Duale to work with Interior Ministry to boost hospital security.
- Facility CEOs held personally responsible for safety and efficiency.
- Ministry to assess reports and act on findings within a week.
The government has directed all national referral hospitals to submit detailed audit reports within seven days following recent safety concerns in key health facilities.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued the ultimatum on Monday during a meeting with hospital CEOs, citing worrying security breaches and growing operational inefficiencies that have put patients at risk and disrupted services.
CS Duale made it clear that the audit reports must identify both security and operational gaps, document what has already been done, and outline urgent steps to resolve the issues.
“Hospitals must take responsibility and show where they’re falling short. The public expects us to fix this system immediately,” Duale said.
Besides security lapses, the Health Ministry is also concerned about poor communication during emergencies. Duale directed hospitals to come up with proper crisis communication strategies to ensure fast and transparent responses in case of emergencies.
“Failure to communicate in times of crisis only makes things worse. We must rebuild public trust,” he emphasised.
To tackle the issue of hospital safety, Duale revealed plans to partner with the Ministry of Interior. This collaboration is expected to strengthen ties between hospitals and local security agencies to ensure quick response to threats and maintain peace within medical institutions.
Duale did not shy away from calling out lapses in staff conduct and professionalism. He urged strict discipline enforcement and a shift in workplace culture, pointing out that public confidence is being eroded by unprofessional behaviour in some health centres.
“Hospital leadership must protect both staff and patients. That duty cannot be passed on,” he said.
The Health CS placed the full responsibility for institutional performance and safety squarely on the shoulders of hospital CEOs. He said their role is central in ensuring daily operations are smooth, secure, and transparent.
“Leadership must drive results. We expect clear progress that aligns with national healthcare goals,” he told the CEOs.
Duale, alongside senior health officials including Dr. Ouma Oluga and Dr. Patrick Amoth, will review the submitted reports within a week. The findings will determine the next course of action as the government moves to strengthen public health infrastructure and restore confidence in referral hospitals.
