By Eddah Waithaka
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has called for an open and thorough investigation into alleged widespread corruption in the country’s health sector. In a bold move during the launch of its 2022-2024 report, the union vehemently criticized the awarding of tenders to foreign companies, accusing them of providing substandard equipment that has not only jeopardized patient care but also resulted in significant financial losses, a blow to an already strained health system.
The report, released on September 16 by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Center for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR), targets Vamed, an Austrian subsidiary of Fresenius, a prominent German healthcare multinational. The document raises concerns about alleged irregularities, pointing the finger at the company for allegedly pocketing substantial sums of money from the Kenyan government.
As outlined in KMPDU’s 2022-2024 report and confirmed by various stakeholders, there is a lack of transparency surrounding the multinational’s projects in Kenya. Specifically, the report highlights a lack of comprehensive information on Vamed’s initiatives in the country. In particular, previous funding for Vamed’s projects in Kenya has come from the Austrian Ministry of Finance, concealing the ministry’s 13% stake in the company, a fact that has not been adequately disclosed.
Also Read:https://switchmedianews.wordpress.com/2024/09/16/17-officials-found-practicing-without-proper-licenses-in-recent-kism-compliance-checks/
Speaking at a press briefing, KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Davji Atellah said, “Without assessing public health needs in local communities there is no public information on how equipment supply contracts were negotiated another healthcare worker said I can confirm that no one in my county knows the value of the project or how much was spent on any of the particulars, they were just handed keys for the maternity.”
“Many counties, Elgeyo Marakwet that we did the project in, Baringo, Makueni and Nandi County all indicate where the project was done but there was no knowledge of the county governments on anything or any information about these projects,” said Atellah.
“We just came to realise through the investigation abroad that some of these funds are actually debts that the government is taking.”
The union stresses that the country’s inadequate health budget remains a major factor contributing to poor health services. The report shows a downward trend in funding for the health sector from 2019.
KMPDU calls for thorough investigations to uncover the key players driving these contracts, identify the beneficiaries of these contracts, and assess the actual impact of these projects on the well-being of Kenyans.
On the other hand, Vamed stated that all initiatives in Kenya have been implemented through concessional financing under development finance schemes.
They clarified that these concessional loans are meant to support commercially unviable projects aimed at improving the general welfare of the people in the countries receiving assistance.
