Family in Agony as Nairobi Hospital Detains Doctor’s Body over Sh18 Million Bill

The family of a Kenyan doctor who died of Covid-19 related complications last month is in agony after the Nairobi Hospital detained his body over an unpaid bill amounting to Sh18 million.

The hospital insists the huge medical bill must be settled before they release the remains of Dr. Lincoln Khasakhala for burial, according to The Standard.

Khasakhala, who was a doctor at Nairobi West Hospital and lecturer at the University of Nairobi, fell unconscious in July 2021 and was rushed to the Nairobi Hospital where he was admitted to HDU then moved to ICU.

The medic had tested positive for Covid-19 in March last year alongside his wife, who died soon after leaving him weak.

Dr. Khasakhala spent two months in ICU before being moved to HDU and later to the normal ward, where he stayed in a vegetative state until his death early last month.

“By the time of his demise, we had incurred a bill of Sh22 million,” his younger brother David Khasakhala told The Standard.

The family managed to raise Sh2.9 million with his employer Nairobi West Hospital, but the other employer (the University of Nairobi) has reportedly refused to contribute to the bill.

“The University claims that it was not informed when Khasakhala was admitted yet he was their staff and he was away for all those months. Of course, they knew he was admitted,” David added.

The university told The Standard that the Nairobi Hospital is not among the medical facilities they cover for its members of staff. “For you to go to a private hospital not referred by us, you must get a special request and get permission to be admitted there. There’s no way we are liable for this,” the university’s corporate affairs office said.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) says its attempts to have Dr. Khasakhala discharged when the bill was at Sh7 million were futile.

The Nairobi Hospital declined to comment on the matter, citing doctor-patient confidentiality.