Thread by @Owaahh

Another appearance by Nairobi Women’s Hospital.

In 2013, the hospital was bought by two private equity firms, which might explain somewhat why they consider patients customers, and talk about us like our lives can be traded.

businessdailyafrica.com/markets/Nairob…

This one is Aga Khan; it was only a matter of time before they made an appearance.

“Private hospitals are the main reason health insurance is out of reach for majority in this country.”

Guys, I’m seeing your many many DMs and thank you for sharing your stories with me. I’ll share screenshots on this thread, and a running commentary...

AAR HQ seems to have people who don’t listen to their patients, and still insist on fleecing them.

Because it's not enough for us to know there's a problem, here's what you need to do as we work to correct this broken system.

Ask questions. Demand answers. Question every single thing you are told must be done. Google the drugs they prescribe, scrutinise the bill. Refuse!

As adults, we must refuse to be treated like this, even by doctors. God is dead, and we killed him, so fuck it.

Go where you are wanted. Demand respect for your humanity, health, time and money.

These are the real life consequences of this corporate greed in our private healthcare. People die, parents lose their kids. This example is Gertrudes, and involves the unnecessary death of a young boy who had an entire life ahead of him, and parents who loved him and miss him.

As you struggle to pay for unnecessary admission, drugs, tests, and just about anything they can charge you for; these hospitals not only discuss you like a commodity, but also celebrate doing it. Playing with your life. Nothing is sacred in this country.

To put context to this. A decade ago, in a bid to ride on the "Africa Rising" nonsense, private hospitals were either bought off by private equity firms, or invested billions (see this 2011 story businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/Hosp…) in expanding services to serve the 'middle class.'

The billions invested were not for altruism or to provide better healthcare. They were investments in the purest definition of the word, so it was expected that they would not only return the investment, but provide profits in perpetuity. Everything became fair game.

With no guiding principles (and with the health ministry complicit, and politicians obsessed with the new positions on offer), this greed became an obvious exploitation of the middle class, who it was thought would not want to be seen at a public hospital.

In that 2011 BD story, Avenue's director literally says “There will be significant economic growth in the coming years to make the expansion and improvements worthwhile.” It's right there, the business case on which this broken system has flourished and cost us money and lives.

@bonifacemwangi always says that while other countries have a mafia, here the mafia have country, and this is a good example. It is not enough to force you into things you don't need, but they also sneak in fake bills and hope you don't notice. Scrutinize the shit out of it!

@bonifacemwangi If this was any other system, say retail, then this wouldn't be as bad as it is. The terrible games hospitals have played with our lives and those we love and care about are not just wrong, unethical, and immoral; they are dangerous! A misdiagnosis is not a joke. See...

@bonifacemwangi A large chunk of the stories you've shared involve children, both unborn and born. Pregnant women have been pushed into doing CS even when they are healthy and it is absolutely unnecessary. And then once the child is born, the hospitals treat their healthcare like a piggy bank.

@bonifacemwangi Inside the hospitals, the staff are not only harassed to meet targets (which they do by fleecing you) but they are even forced to participate in discussing this inhumane corporate greed. They are forced to dehumanise you and see you as a commodity.
We need to do better. We must!

@bonifacemwangi To close this thread, here's the summary of what we have learnt today. You aren't safe in this healthcare system, your kids are not safe, your parents aren't either. Even the staff are not safe, and this is all about money, not your wellbeing.

We must fix it or torch it! 🖖