Esther Oyugi
Kenya might be proud of bringing in two million foreign visitors in the past year thanks to its wildlife, beaches, and tropical climate, but it can boost that number dramatically by taking advantage of the need for health services around the world.
People from one country travel to another for medical treatment in order to receive the same or better care than they would at home. This practice is known as medical tourism. The majority of people travel for medical care because it is more affordable, easier to get, or offers better care.
One of the nations that has made significant investments in this is India. The value of its medical tourism industry is estimated at Sh300 billion.
The half a million people who travel to India each year for medical care are expected to generate Sh900 billion in revenue from medical tourism by 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 200%.
What about Kenya, then? There is opportunity for development, according to Nyali Premier Hospital CEO Dr. Fardousa Ahmed. For instance, Mombasa county sees patients from Tanzania’s neighboring country as well as the six Coast counties.
Dr. Fardousa, 35, thinks that Kenya is better equipped to provide medical tourism than other East and Central African nations.
With all the money Kenya makes from tourism, the government need to make significant investments in the health industry so we can start seeing more patients.
At the moment, two Kenyans are seeking medical attention abroad for every foreign patient in Kenya. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq, Maldives, Oman, Yemen, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Tanzania are the top 10 nations from which India receives patients.
Dr. Fardousa believes that medical tourism should be added to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s push for Universal Health Care.
According to her, county and federal governments should work to build medical facilities and make sure that enough healthcare workers are hired to serve the public.
“Here along the Coast, medical tourism needs to grow. Because the coast destination is already well-known on a global scale, we can profit from this, according to Dr. Fardousa.
The government should make significant investments in the health sector with the millions of dollars that Kenya receives from tourism so that we can start seeing more patients.
NYALI HOSPITAL MAKES WAVES
Premier Hospital was founded in Nyali as a result of the Jubilee government’s push for accessible healthcare.
A University of Nairobi graduate named Dr. Fardousa claims that two years ago, the hospital’s management converted an eight-story rental structure into a contemporary, cutting-edge facility.
On November 24, 2017, Premier Hospital, a pilot project to offer inexpensive medical treatment, was formally established in Nyali along Links Road.
“The hospital was established with the express objective of offering accessible healthcare. When we first started, I was the project manager, but after a few months, we decided to turn it into a fully functional tier-one hospital, she says.
The 82-bed hospital, which is staffed by young doctors and nurses, is seeking to reverse the stereotype that Nyali locals should only use it since it is an expensive facility.
According to Dr. Fardousa, “Yes, we have cutting-edge medical technology, top physicians, and other skilled employees, but we are not as expensive as many people may imagine.”
She continues by saying that they are the only top-tier hospital in the Coast region that gladly accepts Kenyans with National Hospital Insurance Fund coverage.
The majority of private top facilities on the Coast and around the nation have not yet accepted NHIF coverage, but Premier allows patients who are on NHIF to receive treatment, she claims.
Patients without medical insurance can also receive care at the institution at standard rates.
“We don’t charge different prices for different services. We have very open pricing for all of our patients. According to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Universal Health Care program, we are committed to providing accessible health care to all Kenyans.
The country is short on specialists, and healthcare expenses are exceedingly high.
With your standard NHIF card, you have access to the following services: ultrasound, CT scan, dialysis, all surgeries, and a portion of the daily Premier bed cost, she says.
For instance, if you work in the civil service and your employer provides improved medical coverage through the NHIF, you have access to all treatments at Premier Hospital.
The Premier Hospital management will act on your behalf to obtain NHIF preapproval for all of these treatments, according to Dr. Fardousa.
When they first opened the plant in 2017, they only had a small number of employees. But after two years, they have more than 200 employees working as guards, cooks, nurses, cooks, cleaners, and other support staff.
“When we first started, we saw around 20 patients a day. But right now, we see more than 150 outpatients per day. Our goal is to treat more than 250 patients each day, according to Dr. Fardousa.
The doctor claims that as a private hospital in the Coast, they are entirely in favor of the Jubilee government’s plan for universal health care.
“Health care is quite expensive in Kenya. The President has demonstrated his commitment to making it affordable for the populace. Because of this, Premier is also supporting his objective by making sure our services are reasonably priced, says the woman.
TESTIMONIES OF PATIENTS
Omar Swaleh, who spent roughly two weeks in the ICU at Premier Hospital, claims that the hospital staff truly saved his life.
“I was taken unconscious to the hospital. I honestly have no idea what happened, and the ICU admitted me. My life was truly saved by the hospital, he claims.
His family was surprised to learn that the cost was considerably less than they had anticipated.
“The facility is spotless, the personnel is welcoming and knowledgeable, and to top it all off, their services are quite reasonably priced. You are well taken care of if you have insurance or an NHIF card. As for me, I paid using my personal health insurance, claims Swaleh.
Coastal Mombasa resident Mourine Otieno, who works for a logistics firm, has ulcers.
She claims that because of her stomach ulcers, she was also taken by ambulance to Premier Hospital.
I was taken to the ward quickly. I received first-rate medical care throughout a week that I spent in the hospital, she claims.
Dr. Fardousa claims that since they began two years ago, their three-word philosophy of Compassion, Competence, and Care has led to success in surgical services, maternity care, and cancer care.
“In the Coast, our maternity unit is the greatest. We emphasize the perspective of the mothers. A woman will always remember her time spent at this facility. Throughout the delivery period, they will return repeatedly, she says.
Regarding surgical treatments, Dr. Fardousa claims that they have successfully completed numerous surgeries on patients.
“We don’t think a patient should have to fly all the way to Nairobi for surgery. With the institution, we have qualified doctors who can perform complicated surgeries, the woman claims.
KEY CORPORATIONS
A state-of-the-art laboratory that provides a wide range of tests in haematology, clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, and microbiology, among other disciplines, has been established by the management to support a radiology department with a 16-slice CT Scan, Ultrasound, and X-Ray.
We provide endoscopy for those who have digestive issues, dialysis for people who have kidney issues, and chemotherapy for people who have cancer, she explains.
Additionally, the facility includes outpatient consultations, emergency and accident care, pharmacies, radiography, labs, operating rooms, and general wards.
The hospital offers semi-private wards, private wards, VVIP suites, Intensive Care Units, High Dependency Units, and specialty clinic suites among other services for patients who require special care.
Recently, I ran into five of your waheshimiwas who had just arrived in Delhi for a “medical check-up” and were sheeping into a cancer hospital. On my way, I was
In order to ensure that they deliver outstanding healthcare and wellness services within the Coastal region, “we have also worked with a variety of doctors and professional staff,” the woman adds.
In order to keep up with contemporary trends, the hospital has also established a thriving social media staff that quickly answers to inquiries from customers and addresses their concerns.
We do, however, face a problem with millennials. They are more difficult to control than the baby boomer generation. They occasionally choose not to report to work, but we support empowering the young population,” she chuckles.
According to the doctor, Kenya’s economy is driven by its youth. She asserts that organizations must hire the young people in light of the changing nature of technology.
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