The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has denied detaining the body of one of its doctors over pending medical bills.
In a statement dated Wednesday, March 19, the hospital revealed that Dr Daniel Chacha was referred to the hospital by a health facility in Kajiado.
According to KNH, Chacha was in critical condition when he was admitted given that he had severe liver and kidney conditions. KNH added that its staff was admitted to the Critical Care Unit, however, he succumbed to his illness.
Consequently, the hospital stated that it released the body, contrary to reports that the hospital had withheld the body over pending bills.
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"Dr. Chacha's illness was complex, but he received the highest standard of care throughout his stay at ΚΝΗ.
"Contrary to allegations circulating in some media outlets and statements by Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentist Union (KMPDU) officials, KNH did not detain his body. It was released from the KNH Farewell Home to the family and transported to Migori County on Saturday, March 15, 2025," read the statement in part
Notably, the statement came after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) held protests over his death.
The doctors accused the hospital of detaining the body even as they lamented over the insufficient coverage by the Social Health Authority.
According to KMPDU officials, SHA was only able to cover Ksh30,000 of the Ksh300,000 medical bill.
“He visited a local healthcare facility and was mismanaged. By the time he was being referred to KNH, he had developed an acute liver injury, which affected his kidneys," KMPDU Deputy SG Dennis Miskellah told the media.
"He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a week. Unfortunately, he died. The total bill came to around Ksh300,000, but SHA said they can only pay about Ksh30,000."
