Cartels, graft at Afya House will test nerve of Health CS nominee Barasa

Barasa, who was the second nominee to appear before the committee, defended her competencies and capacity, saying she would consult all including the Director General of Health, Principal Secretaries and technical working groups to address challenges in the ministry.

But several MPs demanded specifics on how she will handle corruption.

Pokot South MP David Pkosing said the committee was not vetting a team but rather an individual for the CS position.

“You are running away from responsibilities. We are here to vet you, and not a group,” said Pkosing who appeared not satisfied with Barasa’s response.

The MP said the ministry has had historical scandals, including procurement of clinic containers at Sh10 million each.

Other scandals have been reported at the National Health Insurance Find (NHIF) where managers have been accused of colluding with private hospitals to steal billions of shillings and non-procedural procurement process undertaken at Kenya medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa)

“...again I will apply consultative efforts. It is important to think strategically. I will conduct a situational analysis and see where the gaps are,” the CS nominee said.

Barasa told the committee she will embrace technology to trace supply of medical commodities and procurement process to limit human interaction that triggers corruption.

“I think we need to strengthen processes and also digital platform to track how for example paracetamol gets from national stores up to patient's hand. We shall ensure seamless flow, digital platforms, and involve internal bodies and have routine meetings,” she said.

She said if approved, she will strengthen processes and procedures to curb corruption at the ministry.

Barasa said internal audit, and involvement of government agencies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission will also help fight graft at the ministry.

KIlifi North MP Owen Baya asked the CS nominee to share her leadership skills and policy understanding on handling the health sector.

“I hear you talk so much about situational analysis. Health sector is a big thing, with budgets as well. This (Health CS) requires high level of leadership is policy. I am not hearing you talk about policy issues apart from consultation,” said Baya.

He pressed Barasa to explain how she will bring real leadership to the docket.

Sabaot MP Caleb Amisi said that despite being a technical ministry, politics also takes centre stage.

“How are you equipped in terms of politics, and corrupt individuals, how will you deal with it?” Posed Amisi. 

“From leadership and management perceptive, it is always consultative. These people have been there, they understand situation and gaps. We need to identify gaps and come up with improvement plans. It is critical to give leadership and bring people together to synergise and improve services being given,” Barasa explained.

She was at pains to explain how she would turn Kenya into medical tourism like India.

The CS nominee told the vetting panel that currently, Nairobi hosts WHO expatriates who contribute to the country’s economy by purchasing locally available items.

Barasa said she will access and look at best medical tourism countries like India to know what they have done in terms of human resource, equipment and improvement of specialists.

She admitted that Kenya does not have quality care for patients.

“We need specialists and expand medical equipment to be utilised, infrastructure among other aspects involved, we need to have policies, but in terms of how to progress, we need to look at priorities in Kenya, we do not have quality care services for patients,” she said.

Amisi asked Barasa whether she will retain NHIF or have it repealed by Social Health Authority (SHA).

She said lack of proper transition plans might transition scandals witnessed at NHIF to SHA.

Barasa promised to have more public participation on the law.

“Service is for people of Kenya. We need to engage them, and have community feedback and see how we shall intervene,” she said.

She noted that the public was not involved in establishment of the laws, and changes in the medical scheme.

“It is critical to engage community to understand vision of SHIF and also contribute to have vision come to fruition,” she said.

Transitioning of health schemes has faced roadblocks and recently the High Court the SHIF unconstitutional, due to insufficient public participation.