25/2/2022
Taking a systematic approach to hospital policy development By Neema Kemunto Policy and procedure are two terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, and while they do go hand in hand, they are not the same. A Policy is a general principle that governs behavior in an organization or a government, to achieve rational outcomes. It describes principles, requirements, and limitations and is characterized by indicating “what” needs to be done rather than how to do it. Procedures on the other hand describe the steps necessary to implement policies and achieve organizational goals. They are written documents providing specific “howto” information and will normally be developed by the office responsible for the administration of a policy. Policy formulation is the development of effective and acceptable courses of action for addressing what has been placed on the policy agenda. Kenyatta National Hospital has over the years developed 30 policies as listed below; 1. KNH Prescribing Policy 2. KNH E-Waste Management Policy 3. KNH Energy Management Policy 4. Information and Communication Technology Policy 5. KNH Workplace Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Abuse Policy 6. KNH Workplace Policy on HIV & AIDS
17. Memorandum of Understanding Policy 18. Patient Credit Policy 19. KNH Prescribing Policy 20. Public-Private Partnership Policy 21. KNH Energy Management Policy 22. Corporate Social Responsibility Policy 23. KNH Disaster Management Policy 2012 24. Knowledge Management and Innovation Policy 2015 25. February 2014 KNH Buy Kenya Build Kenya Policy
7. KNH Anti-Corruption Policy
26. Disability Mainstreaming Policy for KNH, June 2010
8. KNH Whistle Blowing Policy.
27. Environmental Policy 2014
9. Per Diem Policy
28. HR Policy
10. Housing and Property Development and Management Policy
29. Infection Prevention and Control
11. Policy on Management of Tuberculosis Infected Health Care Workers. 12. KNH Fixed Assets Management Policy 13. KNH Credit Policy and Procedure Manual 14. Security and Safety Policy 15. Gender Mainstreaming Policy for KNH, June 2012 16. KNH Anti-Microbial Policy
30. KNH Research Policy
While this has been the practice, the hospital has deficient policies and procedures which have failed to meet the intended objectives. According to the Director of Planning & Strategy Mr. Job Makanga, this has been instigated by inconsistency in the style and format of the policies, poorly written policies, inaccessibility of the Policies by all staff, and out-of-
ISSUE 3| Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
date policies. To avoid these and other hitches, the director adds that it is time the Hospital takes a systematic look at its policies and policy-management processes. “Effective policy management begins with a policy and procedure document that outlines the policy-development, Monitoring & Evaluation process. The Hospital is in the process of formulating a welloutlined Policy guideline that will provide general direction on policy formulation and implementation” Stated Mr. Makanga. In its quest to streamline the policy development and implementation process, the Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation department has developed a Hospital-wide Policy Formulation, implementation, and Evaluation Guideline that will provide a clear roadmap on the formulation, implementation, monitoring & Evaluation of Hospital-wide policies. “All Hospital policies will now be centrally developed, monitored and evaluated from the department using the developed Hospital-wide Policy Development, Implementation and Evaluation Guidelines” affirmed Mr. Samuel Wainaina, the Chief Manager, Planning Monitoring & Evaluation. The policy guideline will apply to policies that endure across
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