Kisumu County plans to hand over Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) management to the national government to enhance service delivery.

Formerly known as Russia Hospital, the facility opened its doors in 1969 and has witnessed a strain on its facilities, given the huge population within the catchment area.

With dwindling finances and a slash in donor funds and grants, the County government of Kisumu needs help shouldering the burden of running the facility.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathews Owili said the facility serves over seven counties in the lake region, but the funds allocated to Kisumu to operate it needed to be improved.

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Before the Senate Committee on Health sitting in Kisumu, Dr Owili said the time has come to elevate the facility to level 6 to be managed by the Ministry of Health for effective service delivery.

Further, Owili told the committee that the move was necessary to unlock funds for the facility in the same league as Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Further, he revealed that the county government fronted the proposal to the Ministry last year and hoped the takeover would be fast-tracked.

His sentiments were echoed by Kisumu County Assembly Health Committee Chairman Vincent Jagongo, who said it was unfair for Kisumu to shoulder the burden of running the facility, which benefits over seven other counties in the area.

The Senate Health Committee Chairman Jackson Mandago said the sentiments by the county government of Kisumu were genuine, adding that the Senate will take up the matter.

“I am in agreement with the upgrading of this facility given its geographical location and the number of patients trooping in from different counties,” he said.

On his part, JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr George Rae said funds allocated to the facility have continued to drop over the years, dealing a blow to service delivery.

He said the county government transfers dropped to Kes 491 million in the 2022-2023 financial year.

He said this was a drop in the ocean for a facility that serves the same population as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, which receive annual transfers and grants from Kes. Fifteen billion and Kes 12 billion, respectively.