National Equipment Service rolls out 100 new theatre installations

HILDA CHESHARI-MYGOV

The National Equipment Service Programme (NESP) has officially commenced the second phase of its nationwide theatre installation project, which will see 100 fully equipped operating theatres installed across county and sub-county hospitals.

The rollout is already underway, with six theatres dispatched from the Sunview Medipro International warehouse to Kenyatta National Hospital, and four others delivered to Kilifi County Referral Hospital whereas Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) is will also receive 15 operating theatres.

The initiative is set to significantly boost surgical capacity across the country, with a strong focus on maternal and newborn care.

By expanding access to safe, functional theatres, the project aims to reduce delays in critical procedures such as emergency caesarean sections, directly addressing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.

For many facilities, especially in underserved areas, the lack of equipped theatres has long limited the ability of healthcare workers to respond to obstetric emergencies.

This rollout prioritizes maternity theatres and mother-and-child units, ensuring that women in labour complications can access timely, life-saving surgical interventions closer to home.

“This rollout is about saving lives, especially for mothers and newborns. Too many families have lost loved ones due to delays in accessing surgical care.

"By equipping hospitals with modern, fully functional theatres under the NESP framework, we are bringing life-saving services closer to communities and strengthening the entire referral system,” said Sunview CEO Sirat Amin.

Each theatre comes fully installed with modern, high-performance equipment, including advanced operating tables and surgical lighting systems, anaesthesia machines, patient monitoring systems, as well as syringe and infusion pumps. 

The equipment has been sourced from globally recognized manufacturers such as Gnee, ensuring reliability, precision, and improved patient outcomes.

Mashuuru Level IV hospital in Kajiado is one of the beneficiaries of a modern operating theatre, boosting surgical capacity for maternal and gynaecological procedures.

“We’ve been able to do other surgeries and we now offer services to patients who are referred to our facilities in from lower-level hospitals,” said Joyce Serem, Nursing Service Manager at Mashuuru Level IV Hospital.

Under the NESP framework, a public-private partnership between the national government and medical equipment providers, health facilities are equipped without upfront capital investment, with costs recovered through a structured fee-for-service model.

The programme is designed to expand access to critical medical technologies while easing the financial burden on county governments.

Large referral facilities, such as Level 6 hospitals, are set to receive multiple theatres, some exceeding five units, to match growing patient demand and reduce surgical backlogs.

Sunview is currently looking at placing up to 35 operating theatres at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Meanwhile, hospitals located along major highways are also being prioritized for upgraded theatres to enhance their capacity to handle trauma and emergency cases resulting from road accidents.

So far, Sunview Medipro has installed 40 operating theatres in county and Sub-County hospitals across the country. In addition to general operating theatres, the project includes specialized paediatric theatres installed within Mother and Child units.

These are designed to support infant surgeries and improve neonatal care, further strengthening the continuum of care for both mothers and babies.