Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has been officially elevated to a National Teaching and Referral Hospital and designated as a state corporation.
During a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto on March 11, the Cabinet approved the elevation of JOOTRH.
“The elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to a National Teaching and Referral facility and its establishment as a state corporation," part of the Cabinet dispatch reads.
JOOTRH will now receive direct funding from the National Government instead of relying on county government resources.
The hospital will play a vital role in training nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals. It will collaborate with medical colleges and universities to offer training programmes and conduct medical research.
The elevation of JOOTRH is expected to ease overcrowding at other national referral hospitals, such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, by distributing the patient load more effectively.
This will significantly enhance healthcare access in Kisumu County and neighbouring regions.
Patients will also benefit from more specialised treatment at a local level, resulting in shorter waiting times for critical medical care.
To support this transition, JOOTRH will acquire advanced medical equipment for specialised treatment, and its capacity will be expanded to accommodate more patients.
Infrastructure upgrades will include constructing new wards and modernising existing facilities to improve service delivery.
As a state corporation, JOOTRH will also gain greater administrative independence, enabling it to recruit more specialists and healthcare workers.
This upgrade aligns with the government's strategy to strengthen healthcare services and reduce health inequalities nationwide.
