Mombasa: Barely two days after public outrage over poor services at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH), the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has been suspended by the board pending investigations over governance concerns.
According to Kenya News Agency, the suspension follows an incident where an emergency patient reportedly died while awaiting surgery due to a Sh350,000 payment dispute, raising allegations of medical negligence. The deceased, Ali Kibwana, a night guard, collapsed while on duty at the Mvita MP’s office and was initially treated at a private facility before being referred to CGTRH. The incident has prompted calls for administrative changes and a thorough investigation into the hospital’s operations by Kibwana’s family and Mvita MP Mohamed Machele.
County Secretary and Head of Public Service Jeizan Faruk announced that during a special board meeting, concerns over the conduct and performance of the Hospital’s CEO, Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla, were discussed. As a result, Dr. Sood Mohamed has been appointed as Acting CEO to ensure continuity and stability in hospital operations.
The board expressed concerns about deteriorating governance and stakeholder relations, which have affected public confidence and the hospital’s operational environment. The board deemed Dr. Khandwalla’s continued leadership untenable pending further review, emphasizing the need for stability, credibility, and constructive stakeholder engagement.
Public assurances have been made that the hospital will remain fully operational and committed to providing uninterrupted healthcare services. All clinical services and emergency care will proceed as planned, with a focus on strengthening governance and accountability.
However, Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki criticized the suspension as a reactive measure, suggesting that the hospital’s problems are systemic. He accused the County Government of neglecting tangible investments in the facility, attributing development projects to donor funding under Dr. Khandwalla’s leadership, and highlighted critical staff shortages leading to service delivery issues.
Senator Faki called for accountability from the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health and the Chief Officer for Health, urging them to explain their contributions to addressing the challenges at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
