With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing President Uhuru Kenyatta to ban all international commercial flights, Kenya's wealthy have turned to a select group of local hospitals that offer world-class health care at a premium cost
Mahatma Gandhi once said that it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver, which explains why the elite group leave nothing to chance when it comes to where they choose to seek treatment.
An investigation by the Financial Standard in April 2017 established that there exists a huge demand for an initial deposit fee across all the major hospitals.
"At the Nairobi Hospital, the deposit required for ICU stands at about Ksh600,000, the same as for Mater Hospital, while MP Shah’s stands at Ksh450,000.
"Bed charges at the ICU facilities per day range between Ksh35,000 and Ksh45,000. At the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), deposit for high Dependency Unit (HDC) stands at Ksh200,000, while bed charges per nightstands at Ksh15,000. Deposit for normal admission at its private wing stands at Ksh150,000 where bed charges per night are Ksh4,000," the report reads in part.
The Nairobi Hospital
It was at this pristine health facility that the late former President Daniel Arap Moi was admitted and looked after by his personal doktori, Dr David Silverstein, which says a lot about one of Kenya's top tier hospitals.
Located along Argwings Kodhek Road, the health centre opened its doors to the public in 1954 and quickly established itself as a leader in medical expertise and services provision.
More recently, a brochure detailing a Covid-19 executive isolation centre that was reportedly engineered following a partnership between the prestigious hospital and Silver Springs Hotel, prices an executive suite room at Ksh40,000 per night, per person.
"The Nairobi Hospital-Silver Spring Isolation Centre caters only to Asymptomatic COVID-19 positive clients who want to recover in a relaxing environment while getting regular Hospital reviews," the brochure reads in part.
According to mumsviallge.com, when it comes to expectant mothers, normal delivery costs an estimated Ksh95,000 while a caesarian delivery ranges around Ksh210,000.
The Aga Khan University Hospital
For over sixty years, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH) has been taking care of families in East Africa.
Countless Kenyan leaders have been spotted at the highly rated health centre located along Limuru Road.
It was here that President Uhuru and First Lady Margaret witnessed the birth of their grandchild - the President's son Jomo and his wife Fiona Achola welcomed baby Wanjiru at the Nairobi based hospital.
It hosts one of the most expensive and most prestigious maternity unit, Princess Zahra Pavilion labour, delivery and recovery unit, where normal delivery costs around Ksh120,000 while a caesarian section will set you back around Ksh220,000.
To enjoy the luxurious state-of-the-art facilities, one has to pay anything between Ksh18,000 and Ksh25,000 a day, besides the delivery package.
The Heart and Cancer Centre at AKUH was a first of its kind in East Africa, providing high-quality care and treatment based on international standards for full spectrum of heart and cancer conditions.
The Karen Hospital
The 102-bed multispecialty Hospital in Kenya located in Karen along Karen –Langata Road, Nairobi, was officially opened to the public in 2006 and prides itself in offering patient-focused, world-class medical treatment.
It was here that Jubilee Party's Secretary General Raphael Tuju was flown to for emergency treatment following his grisly road accident at Magina area on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on February 12, 2020.
Addressing the media from the hospital on March 12, Tuju was full of nothing but praise for the quality of service he received at the prestigious facility.
“Those lungs collapsed because of the rib injury and the doctors had to make the life and death decision as to when to remove the life support system so that I could go for the specialised treatment in London.
“I thank you for the great work you did to save my life," said Tuju, who was flanked by doctors based at the hospital.
In terms of maternal care, an expectant mother can pay anything from Ksh175, 000 for Elective Caesarean section for a three-day hospital stay. Normal delivery and antenatal care go for an estimated Ksh90,000.
M.P. Shah Hospital
This is a multi-super-speciality, state-of-the-art, tertiary care hospital that provides a variety of choices of maternity care available to the mother-to-be they include Hospital Doctor based care, Midwifery care and private obstetric care.
At M.P. Shah deliveries are normally conducted by obstetricians whether private or resident. Important to note is that they do offer epidural for pain relief during labour. Normal delivery costs are approximated at Ksh130,000 while caesarian delivery is tagged in the Ksh260,000 range.
In April 2018, the Hospital located in Nairobi's Parklands area grabbed national headlines when a Ksh858,355 bill was imposed on the family of a woman who died about 12 hours after admission following an attack by thugs.
However, the hospital came out with a statement and indicated that the cost was justified and that the patient’s condition required specialised attention and doctors.
“We would like to state that any medical bill is not dictated only by the duration of stay in the hospital, but by the extent and complexity of the medical procedures accorded to the patient,” the statement read in part.
Formally known as Parklands Nursing Home, M.P. Shah Hospital (Meghji Pethraj Hospital) was founded in the early 1930s by prominent philanthropists to alleviate human suffering in the community.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
With a bed capacity of 176, the hospital is capable of accommodating all types of patients. They include a general ward bed (which has a bed, locker, visitors chair and common TV Room), private rooms (with washbasins and TV), en-suite rooms (which are self-contained and fitted with TV).
The Mater Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was commissioned in October 1995 with a capacity of nine beds covering both Intensive Care and High Dependency.
The High Dependency Unit takes care of patients who are transiting from ICU to wards, as well as patients who require close monitoring but not necessarily in ICU. The ICU unit is conveniently located directly above the Accident and Emergency Unit and next to the main operating theatres.
The Hospital has 6 operating rooms that are adequately equipped to handle major and minor operations.
When it comes to maternal care, normal delivery costs about Ksh40,000, while caesarean Section is in the Ksh115,000 range.
Kenya's health care system has come a long way over the years and facilities such as the AIC Kijabe Mission Hospital have received raving reviews from countless Kenyans due to quality service and cost friendliness. Their maternity services are quality yet affordable, with an NHIf card delivery is absolutely free.
However, when it comes to Kenya's elite group of individuals, the aforementioned health facilities are more often than not, where you are likely to find them.
