Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mahat Sheikh Salah received a Ministry of Health assessment team evaluating the hospital’s readiness and identifying the infrastructure, staffing, equipment and institutional requirements needed for the proposed upgrade.
The team held discussions with hospital management led by Mr Salah, focusing on specialised services, human resources, medical equipment, training and research capacity, as well as referral systems.
The committee also reviewed the hospital’s concept note and assessed existing gaps and priority areas requiring investment before the facility can transition to national referral status.
Mr Salah said the proposed elevation would mark a major milestone in the development of healthcare services in Northern Kenya.
He said the upgrade would strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide advanced and specialised treatment closer to patients, reducing the need for residents to travel outside the region for complex medical care.
The elevation is also expected to strengthen medical training, research, specialist referrals and emergency care, positioning Garissa as a major healthcare hub serving Northern Kenya and neighbouring areas of the Horn of Africa.
Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital has served the region for nearly six decades. It began in 1967 as a small city council facility before being transferred to the Ministry of Health in 1970.
The institution, formerly known as Garissa Provincial General Hospital and Garissa District Hospital, has since grown into a major teaching and referral facility providing specialised and emergency services to patients from across the region.
Hospital management said it would continue working with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to address the requirements identified during the assessment.
The proposed Level 6 elevation would be one of the most significant developments in healthcare infrastructure in Northern Kenya and further strengthen Garissa’s role as the region’s principal referral centre.
