Patients at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital are receiving dialysis services smoothly, according to Health CS Deborah Barasa, who spoke yesterday.
“We are pleased to report significant progress. The most notable improvement has been in dialysis, with all patients registered and none missing their treatments,” the CS stated.
Barasa was in Mombasa to evaluate health facilities’ implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA). She emphasized that collaboration between national and county governments, SHA, and other stakeholders has facilitated a smooth experience for patients.
However, she acknowledged that registration for cancer services is lagging but assured that no patient will be turned away.
“We encourage registration—no patient should be left behind, and no one should go home without treatment,” Barasa added.
CGTRH CEO Iqbal Khandwala confirmed that the facility will continue to accept both cancer and dialysis patients, regardless of registration status.
“We will not turn away any patient. In Mombasa County, everything is functioning well, and all 30 chemotherapy patients we serve daily are receiving their treatments,” he said.
Khandwala noted that once SHA is fully implemented, it will simplify the process for patients. Ibrahim Alio, SHA’s director of corporate services, highlighted the efforts to raise awareness about SHA and facilitate registration at the grassroots level.
“We’re using community health promoters and National Government Administration Officers to educate people about SHA,” he explained.
Alio emphasized the importance of ensuring that individuals at the grassroots level receive accurate information about SHA’s benefits.
He explained that the primary healthcare network allows registered individuals to access level 2 and level 3 health services without any charges.
“Once registered, they can receive services from any nearby facility,” Alio said.
He added that all primary health facilities have been mapped out, meaning that if someone registered in Mombasa travels to Kisumu and falls ill, they can receive care at any facility there, unlike the NHIF system, where patients must choose a specific treatment facility.
