Kenya and India are about to conclude and sign an over Sh2 billion financial agreement towards setting up the facility.
15 Kenyan doctors and a number of paramedics have received trainings in India to prepare them to work in the cancer hospital.
The hospital is expected to provide highly trained and experienced medical care at an affordable cost to Kenyans.
Kenya and India have made progress towards establishing a multi-billion shilling cancer hospital and oncology school that is expected to stem cases of ailing Kenyans travelling to the Asian country for treatment.
According to Health Principal Secretary Julius Korir, the two countries are about to conclude and sign an over Sh2 billion financial agreement towards the deal that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Indian Prime Minister Nerendra Modi signed two years ago.
The PS refuted claims that the project had been stalled by Kenya's inability to identify a site where the facility will be set up.
“We are finalizing financial agreement before we can start the project. We have identified the land within the expansive Kenya National Hospital premises. We have over 60 acres of land that will be enough for the project,” said Mr Korir Tuesday.
He spoke as Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Suchitra Durai, expressed her hope that the tendering process for the cancer hospital would be advertised this year to attract Indians, Kenyans, and “third party” bidders.
Training
Ms Durai stated that as part of the deal, 15 Kenyan doctors and a number of paramedics have received specialised cancer treatment trainings in India to prepare them to work at the hospital.
“It is my expectation that the tendering will be done this year. As part of the agreement, we shall undertake 35 per cent of the work and 25 per cent for local or third party. We will source the civil engineering work locally as we bring equipment, technology and other specialised manpower among others from India,” she said.
Ms Durai stated that they have received Kenya's proposal for the project, adding that it is being studied before both sides meet to sign the final agreement.
“Once we are done studying the report, we shall embark on the next stage,” she added.
About 20,000 visa applications are received by the High Commission from Kenyans seeking specialised cancer, health treatment, kidney transplant and surgeries in India.
The hospital is expected to address this need by providing highly trained and experienced medics at an affordable cost locally.
“The other reason is the scale of operation in India. We cater for 1.2 billion people but wer'e not a rich country. We are still third a world middle income country similar to Kenya. As the Indian government, we are happy we can help Kenya,” Ms Durai added.
