Details of a mistake made by the government in the Cuban doctors' exchange program have emerged suggesting that the expatriates may not be as effective as expected.
A close inspection of deployment letters from Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko has revealed that some considerations raised by stakeholders may have been ignored.
One of the issues raised the failure to consider the unique needs of the different counties before deploying the medics.
Another issue that has been raised is the deployment of the Cuban specialist to counties which lack adequate equipment thus seemingly rendering the doctors ineffective.
For instance, in Baringo, the arrival of a critical care physician might not be helpful since the county does not have a functional Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
[caption caption="Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko"]
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According to health sector officials in the region, the national government leased ICU equipment to the county government but failed to install oxygen tanks.
"Kabarnet receives a number of patients who require intensive care but we always refer them to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) or Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
"I am not sure what the ICU doctor is going to do yet the ICU is not operating," stated Francis Koros, a nurses' representative.
Health Executive Mary Panga explained: "Though the ICU is not operating, I am expecting it to begin providing services by around September after receiving money under the 2018-19 Budget because there is some equipment we have planned to purchase."
She further stated that the county would also receive a general physician who is expected to help those with poor access to health care.
"We are planning to take the family doctor to rural facilities to help implement primary health care that will result in fewer referrals to the major hospitals," the executive explained.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who has been a vocal proponent of the initiative, expressed satisfaction with the specialists posted to his county.
"The fact that different counties are getting different specialists from Cuba is a chance to have an exchange programme so that local doctors can get the vast knowledge to attend to various ailments that would instead have been treated outside the country at a huge cost," he stated.
[caption caption="Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui"]
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