Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Grapples with Health Care Crisis Amid Staff Shortages and Funding Cuts

 

By Vivian Anyango

 Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), one of Kenya’s top public health facilities, is facing a deepening health care crisis due to a combination of staff shortages, labour disputes, and recent funding cuts that have severely disrupted operations and patient care.

The shortage of nurses has emerged as a major issue, with remaining staff stretched beyond capacity and forced to work long, exhausting hours. The strain on healthcare workers has resulted in slower service delivery and reduced quality of care for thousands of patients who rely on the hospital for critical services.

The situation was further worsened by the suspension of funding from the U.S. government in January 2025. The funding, provided under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), had been instrumental in supporting HIV/AIDS programs at MTRH. The abrupt freeze left more than 2,000 staff members on unpaid leave and destabilized key services.

Although some HIV-related services have since resumed, the setback has been significant. Across the country, up to 30,000 healthcare workers have reportedly lost their jobs due to the freeze in PEPFAR funding. In addition, clinics are experiencing acute shortages of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other vital medical supplies, raising fears about treatment interruptions for patients living with HIV.

Despite these challenges, MTRH management is making efforts to stabilize the situation. The hospital has taken measures to maintain the continuity of essential services, although the long-term sustainability of these efforts remains uncertain without renewed funding and support from national and international partners.

Health experts are calling for urgent intervention to address the staffing gaps, restore funding, and strengthen the hospital's capacity to deliver quality healthcare, especially to vulnerable populations.

As one of Kenya’s key referral hospitals serving the western region and beyond, the challenges at MTRH reflect broader systemic issues in the country’s health sector, underscoring the need for immediate policy and funding responses.

May 30, 2025