Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) could soon stop serving as the first destination for many patients as the government moves to strengthen Kenya’s referral system.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says patients should first seek treatment at lower-level facilities and only be sent to KNH when they require advanced or specialized care.
Also Read
KNH referral policy under review
The Ministry of Health is developing a new referral policy that will determine where patients are treated depending on the seriousness of their condition.
Under the proposed system, patients who can be managed at Level Four or other lower-level hospitals will remain there instead of being sent directly to KNH.
Those requiring highly specialized treatment would then be referred to national facilities such as KNH.
Duale said the changes are intended to allow KNH to concentrate on complex cases that require specialist services.
Patients could also be transferred back to county hospitals for follow-up care once their condition improves and specialized treatment is no longer necessary.
Government seeks better emergency referrals
The government is also working to improve coordination of emergency cases through the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and the SHA-92 line.
The system is expected to help determine the most suitable hospital for a patient before an ambulance begins the transfer.
Duale said the level of care needed should guide where a patient is taken rather than automatically sending serious cases to KNH.
The ministry also wants referred patients to arrive at KNH with their medical information already available electronically.
Officials believe access to digital clinical records could help doctors begin treatment faster and improve coordination between hospitals.
KNH upgrades specialized care facilities
The announcement came as KNH unveiled four refurbished and fully equipped wards.
The upgrades are part of efforts to modernize the national referral hospital as it marks 125 years of operation.
KNH receives patients from across Kenya, particularly those requiring advanced medical services that may not be available at county facilities.
The Health Ministry says the referral policy is still being developed and has called for the process to be completed quickly.