Kenya’s largest referral hospital embarks on medical tourism
Posted by African Press International on July 3, 2012
Thomas Ochieng, (API), reporting from Kenya
The largest referral hospital and medical training facility in East and Central Africa, the Kenyatta national hospital has embarked on an ambitious initiative that is earmarked at making the hospital a tourist destination.
Highlighted as one of the long-term goal of the referral facility, Kenyatta hospital serving almost half of the Africa’s referral cases has set its sight on making the institution not only one of the preferred medical facility but also a tourist destination of the would be scientists,scholars,medics and students from across the globe. The programme was brought forth during the awarding of KS ISO certification by the regions leading standards verification and certification, the Kenya Bureau of Standards KEBS in Nairobi.
Speaking during the award ceremony the Managing director of KEBS Mrs.Eva Oduor challenged the institution to take advantage of Kenya’s geographical and advanced human resource pedigree and advance the objective of attracting Africa to Kenyatta, “Kenya is situated at the most favorable
location in Africa which has a four hours standard time to Nairobi from all of
the Africa’s capital centers, with the exception of only Dakar in Senegal” Mrs
Eva said.She added that by the institution attaining the world standard of
ISO9001:2008 QMS,the institution was rated very highly in terms of quality of
service offered a catalyst for referrals throughout the continent and medical
sojourns globally.
The Chief Executive of the referral institution Mr.Richard Lesiyampe while offering his appreciation to the Ministry of Medical services and the board of directors for their wisdom in deciding for the first time in its history of operations by having chief executive of the institution outside the medical fraternity to head the facility.
“The ISO certification process has been rigorous for the staff and management
who burnt the mid night oil to make sure the world standards in quality management was attained, which is glorifying to all of us” Said Mr.Lesiyampe. He emphasized the overall goal of the institution was to reposition the hospital as the premier destination for treatment, research or sabbatical retreat for scholars and researchers worldwide.
Ends.
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