Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has taken the lead role in holding a consultative forum for health facilities within Uasin Gishu County.

The forum brought together over 30 medical facilities within Uasin Gishu County and officials from both the Ministry of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation and the Provincial Administration.

While addressing participants at the workshop the Director of MTRH, Dr. John Kibosia, said that there is need to empower the health centers within the Hospital’s catchment area by deploying Senior Medical Personnel to Health Centers for Consultations and even operating in facilities that have Operating Theatres as a form of capacity building.

“ It is estimated that 10% of the total number of clients admitted per month (average admissions 3000) are referral cases while slightly over 2% of the total(21, 5126) outpatient attendances per month are referrals. The numbers, if shared, would ease the Hospital’s burden and hence ensure that we concentrate on referrals and improving on the other needs of a referral facility i.e. equipment and sub-specialties ,” said Dr. Kibosia.

Speaking at the same function, the Assistant Deputy Director Clinical Services (ADDCS), Dr. Wilson Aruasa said that there was need to adhere to the referral system.

He defined a referral system as a mechanism to enable clients’ health needs be comprehensively managed using resources beyond those available where they access care.

This, he said, is based on the premise that while capacity for health service delivery has to be rationalized around different levels of care, the services received by clients’ should not be determined only by the services available where they can access care, but rather by the full scope of care the health system is able to provide in the country.

The day-long event, which was aimed at improving healthcare services within Uasin Gishu County, was held on July 11, 2012 at an Eldoret Hotel.