Patients can now breathe easy as hospitals enforce bed-sharing ban

Hospitals have started enforcing a government directive banning the over-admission of patients, following an order by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

A letter seen by The Standard shows that Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has instructed its staff to limit patient admissions strictly to the facility’s bed capacity.

KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer William Sigilai said staff are now required to admit patients in line with the maximum capacity approved by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.

The national referral hospital has a total of 1,800 general ward beds, while the critical care unit and high dependency unit have a combined capacity of 93 beds.

“Please note that as much as possible, and except in extraordinary circumstances, these numbers must be adhered to,” reads a section of the letter written by Dr Sigilai, dated 11 July 2025.

In cases where admissions reach full capacity, the nurse in charge at every admission point has been instructed to inform the patient or their next of kin.

This is to notify them of the inability to admit the patient at the facility.

“SHA does not reimburse costs for any patients admitted over the hospital bed capacity. Speciality-specific capacity shall be shared by the heads of departments in due course,” said the hospital boss.

KNH has been admitting more patients due to high demand for specialised care, equipment, and doctors.

Patients admitted at the facility come from across the country and neighbouring nations.

Last week, Duale declared that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not reimburse claims for patients who are forced to share beds—a move that has sparked criticism from private hospitals and health experts.

The CS vowed to put an end to the practice of bed sharing.

He warned health facilities against over-admitting patients, which leads to situations where strangers are forced to share beds.

“Never again will you find people sharing beds in our hospitals. We cannot have people sharing one bed, and you charge SHA for four beds.

‘‘The dignity of that patient is important—that is why we will restore dignity in our health system,” said Duale, while meeting the National Parliament Committee on Health, chaired by James Nyikal, in Mombasa last week.

Duale further directed SHA to investigate and only pay claims based on the hospital’s bed capacity.

According to the directive, hospitals can no longer claim reimbursement from SHA for patients who are sharing beds with others.

The CS emphasised that if hospitals want to admit more patients, they must procure additional beds and expand their facilities.

Bed sharing will henceforth be considered insurance fraud, and hospitals found guilty of this practice will face consequences.

“There is no way Kenyans will sleep on the floor, and two others share a bed—they do not know each other, they do not suffer from the same disease—and then we talk about dignity of patients. That will not happen under my watch as CS,” said Duale.

“People are getting money, and they do not want to buy beds. They want the CEO of SHA to pay for four beds when three Kenyans are sleeping on the floor,” he added.

Critics argue that the directive could lead to the denial of care for patients in need of care unless the government urgently revamps lower-tier health facilities.

“Banning hospitals from admitting patients beyond bed capacity—without offering alternatives is a reckless abdication of duty,” said John Juma, a health economist.