Karen Hospital Moves to Court Over Sh25 Million Bill for 83-Year-Old Patient

Karen Hospital has filed a court case seeking to transfer an 83-year-old patient to a more affordable facility or allow him to receive care at home.

The hospital says the patient’s medical bill has reached Sh25 million, and the family is unable to pay, making continued treatment financially unsustainable.

The patient, identified by the initials JAW, was admitted on January 3, 2025, after suffering a ruptured blood vessel in the brain and malignant hypertension.

Karen Hospital claims it has provided ongoing intensive care but cannot continue without payment, forcing it to seek a legal solution.

Through its lawyer, Brian Asin, the hospital is requesting that the court approve either a transfer to a lower-cost facility or home-based care where treatment can continue under more manageable financial terms.

Legal experts note that this case raises critical questions about patients’ rights, hospital obligations, and medical debt management in Kenya’s private healthcare sector.

This is not the first instance Karen Hospital has taken legal action over unpaid medical bills.

In 2020, a similar case involved a patient whose bill reached Sh23.7 million, highlighting the ongoing challenges hospitals face in balancing high medical costs with patient care responsibilities.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Duty of Care: Hospitals are required to provide care to patients, but they also face financial constraints that can affect service delivery.

• Consent for Transfer: Kenyan health guidelines require patient or family consent for transfers or home-based care.

• Financial Responsibility vs. Care Ethics: Courts often weigh the hospital’s need for cost recovery against the patient’s right to treatment.

Broader Implications

The case sheds light on the wider healthcare financing challenges in Kenya, particularly in private hospitals.

High-cost care can create difficult situations for elderly patients and their families, raising debates on how to make healthcare accessible without compromising hospital operations.

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