Kenya’s Rising Health Costs Fuel Poverty

Concern has been raised regarding the rise in health costs in Kenya, with Radio France Internationale reporting that around one million Kenyans are pulled into poverty every year as a result of medical bills.

Cases have also been reported of patients essentially being held prisoner with payment being demanded before they can leave hospital.

Parliament is reported to be considering a bill that would compel hospitals to discharge patients and earlier this week Governor Mike Sonko called for the immediate and unconditional release of all patients unable to pay their bills in Nairobi county hospitals, directing the county government to find ways to settle the bills.

According to the Ministry of Health 184 patients were detained and 387 bodies had not been released for burial as a result of non-payment.