GARISSA, KENYA – Residents of Northern Kenya could soon have greater access to specialised medical services closer to home as Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital prepares for a major transformation from a Level 5 to a Level 6 regional referral facility.
The planned upgrade is expected to strengthen Garissa’s position as a major healthcare hub serving patients from across Northern Kenya, including Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Tana River, Lamu and parts of Marsabit.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mahat Salah said the transformation comes at an important time as Kenya approaches the conclusion of the Vision 2030 development programme.
According to Salah, the hospital has already begun implementing reforms in human resources, infrastructure, specialised healthcare, digitalisation, diagnostics, revenue mobilisation and patient care.
“As Vision 2030 approaches its conclusion, the planned transformation of Garissa County Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital into a Level 6 facility is particularly timely,” Salah said.
The proposed upgrade is expected to reduce the number of patients from Northern Kenya who travel to Nairobi and other parts of the country in search of specialised treatment.
Salah said the upgraded facility would be equipped to provide more comprehensive services, including critical care, emergency treatment and secondary and tertiary healthcare.
“The expectation is that the upgraded facility will provide comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services, including critical care, emergency services, secondary and tertiary care,” he said.
The hospital currently serves a catchment population of nearly two million people, making it one of the most important healthcare institutions in a region where long distances and limited specialised services have historically affected access to advanced treatment.
The hospital has already expanded its workforce as part of its transformation programme.
Salah said the facility previously had only about five specialists, but the number has now risen to approximately 54 specialists working in different medical fields.
The number of nurses has also increased from fewer than 100 to about 300, strengthening the hospital’s capacity to provide specialised and round-the-clock services.
“These improvements have significantly enhanced our capacity to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Northern Kenya,” Salah said.
The hospital has 366 beds, with bed occupancy reaching approximately 90 per cent by June 2026, highlighting the growing demand for its services.
Management has also introduced measures to improve revenue collection and financial accountability.
These include tighter verification of NHIF and SHA claims, closer monitoring of revenue-generating departments, departmental billing systems and daily reconciliation of institutional accounts.
The measures are intended to minimise under-billing, unclaimed services and revenue leakage while ensuring that all services provided are properly captured and billed.
Cash collections increased from approximately Sh67.75 million in the 2023/24 financial year to Sh127.64 million in 2025/26.
SHA revenue also rose from Sh172.37 million in 2024/25 to Sh315.41 million in 2025/26.
Since the introduction of SHA, the hospital has processed claims worth more than Sh515.18 million, with approximately Sh349.34 million reported as having been paid.
“We have strengthened our systems to ensure services provided are properly captured, billed and accounted for,” Salah said.
The hospital is also embracing digital technology as part of its modernisation programme.
Financial services have already been automated, while other departments are progressively being integrated into the digital system.
Salah said digitalisation has improved efficiency and accountability, particularly in clinical operations.
Further investments will focus on improving patient flow, medical records management, billing and accountability systems.
Infrastructure development remains another key component of the hospital’s transformation.
The facility is implementing the second phase of its modernisation programme, which includes the construction of a five-storey mother and child facility with a capacity of 400 beds.
The project is expected to significantly strengthen maternal and child healthcare services across Northern Kenya.
“The mother and child facility will greatly strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in Northern Kenya. It is an investment in the future of mothers and children across this region,” Salah said.
The hospital has also developed a private wing, modern maternity facilities, a modern surgical ward and an inpatient pharmacy.
As Kenya prepares for the next national development framework after Vision 2030, the hospital says it is ready to build on the progress made so far.
Salah said there was a need to assess the gains made in the health sector, identify remaining gaps and develop strategies to address them under the next development framework.
“As we approach the end of Vision 2030, there is a need to take stock of what has been achieved in the health sector, identify the gaps that remain and determine how those gaps can be addressed under the next development framework,” he said.
The planned upgrade could ultimately transform Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital into a major specialised healthcare hub for Northern Kenya, reducing the need for patients to make long journeys to Nairobi while improving access to advanced medical services closer to home.
