Kilifi County health officials have vowed to take disciplinary action against staff found neglecting their duties at Malindi Sub-County Hospital following an impromptu inspection that uncovered complaints over delays and poor communication with patients. 
By Ben Okweingoti,
Kilifi County health officials have vowed to take disciplinary action against staff found neglecting their duties at Malindi Sub-County Hospital following an impromptu inspection that uncovered complaints over delays and poor communication with patients.
The inspection was led by County Executive Committee Member for Health Peter Mwarogo, accompanied by Director of Medical Services Dr Eddie Nzomo and Head of Curative and Rehabilitative Services Dr Naisae Michel.
The officials visited the facility unannounced after receiving complaints from members of the public about delays in receiving laboratory results and the quality of services offered at the hospital.
Mwarogo said the county had already addressed delays in laboratory services and identified staff accused of being negligent, warning that disciplinary action would be taken against them.
“Many people have complained about the long period they take to wait for lab results and we have sorted that one. We have also discovered that some staff are lazy and we have already identified them so that disciplinary action can be taken against them,” Mwarogo said.
He said the county health department currently has more than 1,600 employees serving in various health facilities, adding that additional staff would be recruited to improve service delivery.
Dr Michel acknowledged that poor communication between health workers and patients remained a major concern, saying staff would undergo public relations training to improve how they interact with patients.
“Our staff are doing a great job, but communication with patients is where the problem comes in. We are addressing that to improve services and ensure patients receive satisfactory information,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Nzomo said ambulance services at Malindi Sub-County Hospital had been enhanced, with one ambulance now permanently dedicated to maternity emergencies.
He said ambulance services were available free of charge and residents requiring emergency referrals could call 1535 for assistance, subject to meeting the referral criteria.
The hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Ramadhan Kombe, said the facility was under pressure due to a high number of referrals from neighbouring counties, including Tana River, Lamu and parts of Garissa.
“We receive referrals from Tana River, Garissa and Lamu, and this has overstretched our services. However, we are working to ensure services continue to run smoothly,” Dr Kombe said.
The inspection comes as health facilities across the country continue to grapple with disruptions linked to doctors’ industrial action, with Kilifi County relying on contracted medical services to maintain healthcare delivery.
