Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has been elevated to a Level C5 parastatal, a designation previously reserved for public universities.
The announcement was made today by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga during a visit to the facility.
Oluga emphasised that the change must be felt immediately, urging the hospital’s management to embrace its expanded mandate.
“You are no longer a county government hospital,” he stated, urging the management to adopt the discipline and vision expected of a national institution.
He explained that the upgrade is intended to attract and retain skilled health workers while positioning JOOTRH for financial sustainability.
National referral hospitals he said, will no longer rely solely on tax-based funding within the next five years, making diversification of revenue streams urgent.
As part of this transformation, JOOTRH is expected to tap into new funding avenues, including clinical research, grant applications and the establishment of a modern simulation centre to boost medical training and generate income.
Oluga also highlighted a people-first strategy, prioritizing staff welfare, patient safety and community health.
The PS urged the facility to strengthen follow-up care and implement a robust public health strategy targeting preventable diseases that continue to burden the region.
He further challenged senior specialists to mentor younger staff, underscoring the hospital’s role as both a treatment and training hub.
A new hospital board will be appointed by the end of the month to oversee the transition, with Oluga stressing that JOOTRH must lead by example in redefining healthcare delivery.
“This facility is expected to change the story of health in this region,” he said.
The upgrade comes as JOOTRH expands its infrastructure, with 124 new beds recently added in a specialized orthopaedic ward and plans to complete a 1,000-bed specialty block by December 2025.
Serving over 10 million people across Kisumu and the wider Lake Region, the hospital is now positioned alongside Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital as one of Kenya’s flagship health institutions.
