08 August, 2010

Kenya New Constitution - Right to emergency medical treatment

Money issues: Under the new laws, patients are entitled to emergency treatment in any medical facility in the country, including private ones. But one of the private health providers, Dr Amit Thakker of Avenue Health Care, says the new law only demands that private medical facilities administer first aid to all emergency cases. He fell short of saying that private hospitals will not admit you if you do not have the money, no matter what the constitution says.

“If the patient or his relatives are unable to raise some deposit, then we will transfer them to government facilities,” said Dr Thakker. This, he says, has been the norm, even without the
new constitution. Under the economic and social rights article — 43 (2) — a person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment.

-- Saturday Nation

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