CPISFC flags administrative challenges in Longisa Referral Hospital operations

CPISFC flags administrative challenges in Longisa Referral Hospital operations

𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) has raised serious concerns about governance, financial management and operational oversight at Longisa County Referral Hospital for the 2023/24 financial year. A scathing audit report revealed significant shortcomings, including unapproved budgets, accounting discrepancies, inadequate asset management, Lack of hospital independence and improper handling of expired medical supplies.

Chairperson of the committee, Senator Godfrey Osotsi, set the tone, warning that weak management is undermining the hospital’s effectiveness. “If the management is weak, the hospital will be weak, just like we saw with municipalities. If there is no proper board, if there’s no independence, then everything else will be affected,” he stated. His remarks underscored the broader systemic issues plaguing the institution.

One major issue flagged was the failure to properly dispose of expired medical supplies. Senator Hillary Wakili Sigei voiced his frustration, emphasizing that storing expired drugs alongside usable ones was unacceptable. “This is not only a breach of protocol but also a risk to patient safety,” he said. His comments highlighted the lack of basic operational safeguards at the hospital.

Further scrutiny focused on financial mismanagement, particularly an unexplained omission of Ksh.83 million in NHIF revenue from the hospital’s financial statements. Senator Wakili Sigei questioned whether the hospital even had an approved annual budget, to which the auditor confirmed it did not. The absence of a budget raised alarms about the hospital’s ability to plan and allocate resources effectively.

The situation worsened when the accountant responsible for preparing the flawed financial statements admitted to professional lapses. Under questioning, he confessed to being “not in good standing” with his regulatory body, casting doubt on the credibility of the reports. Governor Hillary Barchok distanced himself from the failures, stating, “I don’t want to take responsibility for errors committed by my people because they are experts trained in accounting. I’ve always insisted they must be in good standing with their regulatory bodies.” His remarks, while clarifying his reliance on specialized professionals, highlighted gaps in leadership oversight.

The committee stressed that these challenges jeopardize the hospital’s ability to deliver quality healthcare. Unless urgent action is taken to address these deficiencies, Longisa County Referral Hospital risks compromising its mandate to serve the community.